WASHINGTON -- Manager Crag Counsell said before Saturday’s game against the Nationals that it was a scheduled off-day for Lorenzo Cain, who is scuffling at the plate as of late. But upon further review, it’s been made clear the now two-game absence has been due to an ailment.

Cain was unavailable for both Saturday’s 15-14 marathon win and Sunday’s 16-8 loss after tweaking his oblique in Friday’s 2-1 loss. The Brewers believe that it’s a minor problem, that he is progressing well and, while he will most likely be kept out of Monday’s series opener in St. Louis, that an injured list stint will be unlikely.

“We’re hoping he’s available tomorrow, [but he] probably will not start the game,” Counsell said after Sunday's defeat. “If he keeps making progress, we should be in good shape, but tomorrow is going to be kind of an important day. ... We’ll be careful with it, but it’s going in the right direction.”

It all comes after Cain entered the weekend series in a 9-for-45 (.200) funk with one extra-base hit his previous 14 games before going 2-for-4 with a walk on Friday, when he picked up the knock.

In the interim, Trent Grisham has taken over the majority of reps in center field. The rookie was 0-for-5 in the loss Sunday after going 1-for-7 with a homer on Saturday. He piled up seven strikeouts across the two games.