Justin Upton was back in the Braves’ lineup one day after the left fielder was removed from a game with a mild left hamstring strain.
Upton, the team leader in home runs and RBIs, was injured in the eighth inning of Thursday’s loss to the Dodgers while running to third base. He was immediately removed giving much pause for concern.
Upton missed only one inning as he was in the lineup and batting fourth in the series opener against the A’s Friday.
“He is fine,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “It’s one of those things. He’s had it before and it flares up on him. …I checked with him this morning. He said ‘Fredi, I feel great.’ He thought if he had enough time (Thursday) he could have stayed in the game.”
The struggling Braves offense needs Upton in the lineup – especially at home. Entering Friday’s game he ranked second in the National League with 44 RBIs, tied for third with 14 home runs and ninth with a .316 average at home.
Upton homered to left centerfield in his first at-bat against the A’s.
