Ankle sprain sidelines Cubs’ Kris Bryant

The Cubs are calling the injury that forced Kris Bryant out of Thursday’s game a “mild” ankle sprain, pending results of a precautionary MRI and another evaluation Friday morning.

The 2015 National League Rookie of the Year is expected to be sidelined at least a day or two, and manager Joe Maddon said he wanted to wait for updates from the medical staff before speculating on a timeline.

Bryant, who started in left field on Thursday, rolled his right ankle while scoring from first on Anthony Rizzo’s double in the third inning.

He stayed in the game for one more defensive inning and one more plate appearance – during which he was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game – before exiting after starting to take the field in the top of the fifth.

Javy Baez took over in left at that point and finished the game.

Bryant has started all 21 games for the Cubs this season, splitting time between the third spot in the batting order and fifth. He’s hitting .289 with four homers, 15 RBIs and a .372 on-base percentage. He has a six-game hitting streak.

Before the game, the Cubs placed catcher Miguel Montero on the disabled list because of a sore back and called up Tim Federowicz from AAA Iowa.