Atlanta Braves right-hander Jesse Chavez was helped off the field after being drilled in the left shin by a comebacker during the sixth inning of Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday afternoon.
X-rays were negative, Braves manager Brian Snitker said after his team's 10-7 win in Game 1. Chavez was transported to a nearby hospital to undergo further evaluation and tests. Those results came back clean, and the Braves said after Game 2 that Chavez is day-to-day.
Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers smoked a one-hop shot up the middle that made a hard impact on Chavez's shin. The 39-year-old reliever writhed in pain on the mound and was eventually carried off the field by two athletic trainers, keeping weight off his left leg.
"You're always concerned when anybody gets hit like that," Snitker said. "That ball was smoked, too."
Chavez told reporters after Game 2 that the pain wasn't too bad, but his frustration level was high as he was unable to scramble after the ball. He was pleased to dodge a serious injury.
"I feel fine right now," he said after Atlanta won 6-5 to complete the doubleheader sweep.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.