DENVER — Braves left fielder Justin Upton was back in the lineup Wednesday against the Rockies, after leaving Tuesday's game in the first inning with tightness in his left hamstring.
He’s dealt with occasional problems with the same hamstring in recent seasons. Manager Fredi Gonzalez replaced Upton after the top half of the first Tuesday as a precautionary measure after seeing the slugger moving gingerly when he came off the field after running the bases following his infield single.
Upton said he felt “some discomfort” in the hamstring halfway up the first-base line on his infield hit. He told Gonzalez after the inning that he could play through it, but the manager wanted to be cautious, particularly because of the ground that outfielders have to cover in the spacious Coors Field outfield.
“Every once in a while it bothers me, but I can usually play through it,” Upton said. “When I get running in Atlanta and get nice and warmed up and loose, it’s one thing. But up here where it’s dry atmosphere and cooler air, anything can happen. But I’ve been fortunate this year. It hasn’t bothered me very much, especially in Atlanta.
“It’s one of those things where as the season progresses and you get more fatigued it can pop up. But I’m fortunate it hasn’t bothered me very much.”
Jordan Schafer replaced Upton in the first inning Tuesday and is expected to start in left field Thursday when Gonzalez plans to rest Upton and catcher Evan Gattis in the day-game finale of the four-game series.
