Brewers vs. Pirates Tuesday MLB injury report, probable pitchers, odds: Former NL MVP Christian Yelich on COVID list, Lorenzo Cain activated

The sports news for Green Bay/Milwaukee fans has only been positive for the past week with the Bucks winning the NBA title for the first time in 50 years and Packers star quarterback Aaron Rodgers reporting to training camp today. However, a bit of bad news for the Brewers as former National League MVP Christian Yelich has tested positive for COVID and is obviously out a while. The Brewers are short William Hill Sportsbook favorites Tuesday when they open a series in Pittsburgh.

Yelich was fully vaccinated so this is a breakthrough case, and he apparently started developing mild symptoms Monday. The 29-year-old outfielder won the NL MVP in 2018 and was runner-up in 2019, but he hasn't been the same since, in part due to injury/health reasons. Yelich is hitting just .235 with six homers and 28 RBIs in 67 games this year, a WAR of 1.0. In his MVP season, his WAR was 7.6. Yelich will miss at least 10 days.

In addition, valuable utilityman Jace Peterson was placed on the COVID list as a close contact, meaning he will miss at least seven days. He can play nearly everywhere on the diamond and was hitting .244 with four homers and 21 RBIs.

On the bright side, outfielder Lorenzo Cain will be activated from the injured list and should be in Tuesday's lineup. He has been out since late-May with a hamstring injury. Cain is a very good defender but also has struggled at the plate, batting .223 with three homers and nine RBIs in 31 games this year.

If any team can "afford" a few issues right now, it's Milwaukee as it has a seven-game lead atop the NL Central and is a -850 favorite to win it. The Brewers are expected to be buyers ahead of Friday's Trade Deadline.

Milwaukee lefty Brett Anderson (2-5, 4.26) is on the mound. He hasn't won since seven dominant innings vs. Pittsburgh on April 17. Anderson is 1-4 with a 5.40 ERA on the road.

It's lefty Tyler Anderson (5-8, 4.35) in what could be his final start for Pittsburgh as he's widely expected to be traded. On July 4 at home, Anderson shut out the Brewers on three hits over seven. He has a 2.50 ERA in three starts this month. 

The Brewers are 7-3 vs. the Pirates this year and 3-1 in Pittsburgh. Yelich was 6-for-17 with seven walks, eight runs scored and six RBIs in the season series. 

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