CHICAGO — The defending champion Chicago Cubs might have to get by without electrifying star Javier Baez after he left their loss to the Atlanta Braves on Sunday because of blurred vision in his right eye.

Baez took a knee to the eye while diving into second base in the second inning. He departed in the third.

He was being examined at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and was expected to join the team in Pittsburgh on Monday.

“Javy’s one of the best shortstops in the league, hands down,” pitcher Mike Montgomery said. “It’s unfortunate that he came out like that. I hope he’s gonna be all right. We need him.”

Baez is a major part of the Cubs on offense and defense. He has been filling in at shortstop with Addison Russell sidelined since early August because of a strained right foot.

Baez had just walked when he got caught off first and sprinted toward second. His helmet flew off as he dove into the bag, and his eye hit second baseman Ozzie Albies’ knee.

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Nationals: Catcher Matt Wieters didn’t start for the third consecutive game as Washington lost to Milwaukee 7-2.

Wieters, who took a foul ball off his knee on Thursday, entered Saturday night’s game in the eighth inning.

Royals: Manager Ned Yost said left-handed pitcher Danny Duffy (left elbow impingement) threw from 60 feet on Saturday. There’s still no timetable on Duffy’s return, and Yost said it’s possible right-handed pitcher Sam Gaviglio would start on Thursday in Duffy’s turn.

Mets: Infielder Wilmer Flores broke his nose in a 4-1 loss to Houston on Saturday night when he fouled a ball off his face. Collins said they’ll know more about his injury after Flores visits a doctor in New York on Monday, but added that he doesn’t expect the injury to end his season.

Assistant General Manager John Ricco told reporters this weekend that outfielder Michael Conforto will have surgery to repair a torn posterior capsule in his left shoulder sometime next week.

Conforto was injured when he dislocated his shoulder on a swing on Aug. 24.

Astros: Right-handed pitcher Lance McCullers (back discomfort) will come off the disabled list to make his first start since July 30 on Wednesday.

Tigers: Right-handed pitcher Anibal Sanchez (hamstring) is scheduled to return to the rotation Tuesday, while left-handed pitcher Daniel Norris (groin) will work out of the bullpen.

Angels: Closer Bud Norris (sore right knee) is eligible to be activated from the disabled list Wednesday. The right-hander expects to be ready to pitch then.


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