Brewers OF Braun leaves team to receive thumb injection

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun will miss Wednesday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates after leaving the team to get an injection in his right thumb.

Braun flew to Los Angeles to undergo a cryotherapy injection, a procedure in which a needle delivers freezing temperatures to treat an irritated nerve.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Braun first underwent this type of procedure in 2014 after being bothered by thumb pain most of the season.

Earlier this week, the 34-year-old Braun had a setback, and that led to the decision to receive treatment.

"It started bugging him the last couple of days, so he flew out this morning (to Los Angeles)," Brewers manager Craig Counsell told reporters prior to the game against the Pirates. "I think this is the fifth time he has had it."

Counsell said the severity of the situation will determine how soon Braun returns to the lineup. He said it could be as soon as Braun returns to the team depending on how the thumb responds to treatment.

Regardless, the team will closely observe Braun's thumb.

"It's something that he expects from time to time," Counsell said. "When it starts (bothering Braun), we try to get in front of it and knock it out right away."

Braun, the National League MVP in 2011, is batting just .236 with eight homers and 31 RBIs in 58 games this season.

--Field Level Media