NL MVP Christian Yelich pulled from Brewers game with lower back issue

NEW YORK — Reigning NL MVP Christian Yelich has been pulled from the Milwaukee Brewers game against the New York Mets with lower back discomfort.

Yelich was replaced by Ben Gamel in right field Sunday to begin the bottom of the fifth inning.

It's unclear when Yelich was injured. He singled in the fourth inning and was retired on Jesus Aguilar's double play. Yelich also dealt with back issues last season.

Yelich hit hits major league-leading 14th homer in an 8-6 win over the Mets on Saturday. That tied him with Albert Pujols (2006) and Alex Rodriguez (2007) for the most through the first full month of the season.