MILWAUKEE -- Yes, even 26-year-olds riding torrid streaks at the plate need a break sometime.
That sometime came Wednesday for Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich, who was absent from the starting lineup for the first time since July 2 -- prior to an All-Star "break" that wasn't for Yelich, who made the Midsummer Classic and hit a home run for the National League.
He did single amid a promising rally in the ninth inning of the Brewers' 6-4 loss to the Cubs, extending Yelich's on-base streak to 22 games.
But his absence from the starting lineup caused a stir, since the Brewers were facing an opportunity to sweep a three-game series against the NL Central-leading Cubs. Yes, Chicago was starting lefty Jose Quintana, who has held Yelich 1-for-9 with a double, but the Brewers are off Thursday, and there's another lefty opponent scheduled Friday in the Giants' Derek Holland.
If the Brewers wanted it to be a two-day break, why couldn't they have waited to sit their most productive second-half hitter until then?
"It was time. He needs a day off," manager Craig Counsell said. "[Waiting until Friday] was certainly in the conversation, but we got to the point [Tuesday] night where he needs a day off."
Counsell gave no indication of a physical problem beyond the usual aches and pains associated with this stage of the season.
"Look, this is a guy who has played every day. There's not many guys playing every day like this," Counsell said. "We just reached a point when he needs a day. ... Friday was a thought, but we just reached a day where it has to be today. He'll be ready to go on Friday."
Yelich's 22-game on-base streak is the longest active streak in the NL and matches the longest of Yelich's career (Aug. 20-Sept. 10, 2017). Since the All-Star break, Yelich leads the Major Leagues with a 198 weighted runs created plus, .479 weighted on-base average and 1.130 OPS, entering Wednesday .