Outfielder Kris Bryant leaves Rockies' 4-3 loss to Phillies

Colorado Rockies outfielder Kris Bryant left Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies during the third inning with pain on his left side.

Bryant, 31, struck out swinging in the first inning and grimaced on the final strike. He remained in the game before being replaced in time for his second turn in the lineup by Elehuris Montero.

"He had some good swings, but his swing was compromised a bit," Rockies manager Bud Black said, adding that the issue wasn't a back injury but pain in Bryant's sacroiliac joint and glute on the left side. "When he put his foot down and landed, there was a little bit of pain."

After an injury-riddled debut season with Colorado in 2022, Bryant is showing signs of turning it around this year. He had just five home runs and 14 RBIs in 42 games in 2022, but he entered Saturday's game with a .291 average, 3 home runs and 6 RBIs.

In May 2022, Colorado placed Bryant on the injured list with a lower-back strain. That was after he missed 21 games earlier in the year because of back pain. Bryant signed a seven-year, $182 million free agent deal in March 2022.

Nick Castellanos hit his first two home runs of the season as the Phillies took the third of the four-game series with the Rockies. Colorado will enter Sunday's series finale at 6-16 and in last place in the National League West. Black was unsure if Bryant would be back in the lineup Sunday.

"It's a day-to-day thing," Black said. "We just need it to calm down."