PITTSBURGH -- Pirates right-hander Chris Archer was removed from Monday night's 1-0 loss to the Braves at PNC Park after four innings as a precaution due to left leg discomfort.
Archer's injury was caused by an awkward, spinning swing in his lone at-bat on Monday, a third-inning strikeout. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle and head athletic trainer Bryan Housand went out to the mound to meet with Archer as he warmed up before the fourth inning, but Archer remained in the game and pitched the inning before exiting.

"The one thing that I've always prided myself on in this game is being on the field," Archer said. "But I think it was a smart move. Like they told you guys, it was precautionary. Just trying to be smart so I can be out there in five days instead of letting it linger and potentially doing something worse."
Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Archer continued to "check out OK" on his left side through evaluations on Monday.
"As the inflammation will subside over the night and in the morning, we'll take another look at him," Tomczyk said. "And we'll have updates [Tuesday] for you as for his availability in the coming days."

Archer, who threw 76 pitches on the night, allowed one run on five hits and walked one while striking out three. Left-hander Steven Brault took over on the mound in the fifth inning with the Pirates trailing, 1-0.