What happened to Mike Yastrzemski? Why Braves $23M outfielder is headed to IL

The Atlanta Braves are sitting atop the NL East, but the Philadelphia Phillies and Miami Marlins aren't far behind the Braves.

With the Braves potentially at risk of losing their top spot in the division, they got some bad news on Saturday, as outfielder Mike Yastrzemski is now going to miss some time.

As the Braves announced, Yastrzemski is headed to the injured list. But why? The $23 million Braves outfielder is hitting the IL due to an elbow issue.

Why Mike Yastrzemski is hitting IL for Braves

"The Braves today recalled RHP Owen Murphy to Atlanta and placed OF Mike Yastrzemski on the 10-day injured list with left elbow inflammation," the Braves announced Saturday.

This is a big blow for the Braves, as Yastrzemski, the 35-year-old outfielder who is in year one of a two-year, $23 million deal with a 2028 club option, is now hitting the injured list.

This season, in 85 games, Yastrzemski has posted 1.2 bWAR with a .230 batting average, a .686 OPS, and a 91 OPS+. In July, Yastrzemski was on a heater, posting a .971 OPS with two homers and nine RBIs for the Braves.

MORE: Braves trade idea sends Owen Murphy to Red Sox for Sonny Gray

But now, he's hitting the injured list, joining Ronald Acuna Jr. on the IL from the Braves outfield, leaving just Michael Harris II as the last starting outfielder.

It's a tough blow for the Braves, as the veteran slugger was picking up the pace for a Braves team that has been struggling a bit in the last month and a half or so.

Now, Atlanta will be relying more on Eli White, Mauricio Dubon, Jorge Mateo, and new outfield addition Brewer Hinklen. 

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