Kris Bryant to miss series opener vs. Cardinals

CHICAGO -- Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant is out of the lineup Friday with a finger injury and could miss this weekend's series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Bryant sprained his finger on a headfirst slide in the first inning of Chicago's 8-2 victory at Atlanta on Wednesday. X-rays were negative, but Bryant is experiencing soreness and there is some concern about gripping a bat.

"We're going to do this as a day-by-day thing," manager Joe Maddon said before Friday's 11-4 loss. "I really don't know. If I had to guess, probably not tomorrow too and possibly on Sunday. But I really don't know."

The 25-year-old Bryant is hitting .275 with 19 homers and 40 RBIs in 88 games. He won the National League MVP award last year, helping the Cubs to their first World Series title since 1908.

Javier Baez got the start at third for Chicago's series opener against the Cardinals and went 1-for-4.