Yelich a late scratch as back stiffness returns
Slated to bat fifth for first time, outfielder day to day, but unlikely to play Wednesday as well
PHILADELPHIA -- Christian Yelich was a late scratch from Tuesday night's lineup due to stiffness in his back. The Marlins left fielder, who has hit just .200 through the first 13 games of the season, was originally slated to hit fifth for the first time before being removed from the lineup.
Yelich missed two games last week with the same injury. Marlins manager Mike Redmond said after Tuesday night's 7-3 loss to the Phillies that Yelich was day to day, and the left fielder said he probably would miss Wednesday night's game as well.
"I was doing everything I do in [batting practice] and it kind of grabbed me there," Yelich said. "I really don't know why it keeps happening. It's just really frustrating. This is twice in the last, whatever, week. It's just really, really frustrating. We've all had our theories, but no one knows."
Redmond moved center fielder Marcell Ozuna up from the sixth spot into the five-hole, while Ichiro Suzuki, who replaced Yelich in left field, batted sixth. Ozuna extended his hitting streak against the Phillies to 10 in the series opener.
Yelich has struggled over the first seven games on this road trip. Over three games in Atlanta and four in New York, Yelich has hit just .091 (2-for-22) with one run scored and one RBI.