ATLANTA -- When Braves manager Brian Snitker announced Josh Donaldson had been removed from the lineup before Tuesday's 4-3 loss because of a sore right calf, he quickly pointed out this was not the same calf that sidelined the former American League MVP Award winner for most of last season.

But it is the same calf that forced Donaldson to miss nearly six weeks during the early portion of the 2017 season. So there is certainly reason for the Braves to be cautious with their veteran third baseman, who signed a one-year, $23 million contract in November.

“We’re just trying to stay ahead of it,” Snitker said. “He’s just going to get treatment, and [we'll] stay away from him today.”

Donaldson’s ailment will likely keep him out of the Braves’ lineup for just a game or two.

Snitker was casually sitting in the home dugout when the team’s head athletic trainer George Poulis summoned him to the clubhouse to inform him it would be best to give Donaldson at least one day of rest. The 33-year-old veteran started to feel some tightness in his right calf after playing the entirety of Monday night’s win over the Padres.

“After the game, he had some shallow pain, and he got some treatment,” Snitker said. “Situations like that, you can’t tell until the next day when they come in. There’s evidently a little something there. So we’re just going to err on the side of caution.”

Donaldson missed three weeks early last season with right shoulder inflammation. The former Blue Jay strained his left calf nearly four weeks after being activated and ended up being on the injured list from May 29-Sept. 11.

The Braves’ medical staff has maintained a thorough and cautious approach to Donaldson, who underwent approximately an hour of treatment after hitting the game-winning, three-run home run in the eighth inning of Sunday’s win over the Rockies.

Donaldson has hit .258 with five homers and a .890 OPS through 28 games this season. He got off to a slow start, but has produced a .315/.456/.685 slash line over his past 16 games.