Cubs' Bryant day-to-day after slide scare

[July 20, 2017]  ATLANTA -- Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant left Wednesday's game against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning after spraining the little finger on his left hand in a head-first slide.

X-rays were negative, ruling out a fracture, and Bryant was listed as day to day.

"You slide into someone's foot and you obviously think the worse-case scenario," Bryant said. "I was kind of scared to even look at my finger."

Bryant, the reigning National League MVP, hit the foot of Braves third baseman Johan Camargo with his hand as he tried to advance on a pitch in the dirt. He was thrown out by catcher Tyler Flowers to end the top of the first.

Bryant, who had doubled in the first against knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, appeared to be in immediate pain after he caught his fingers. He stayed on the ground for a few seconds before leaving the field.

Bryant was replaced by Tommy La Stella defensively to start the bottom of the inning.

Manager Joe Maddon pointed to Bryant's quick return from an ankle injury when projecting when the Cubs might have Bryant back in the lineup. Thursday's off day was a given but Bryant did not consider starting Friday a sure thing.

Cubs shortstop Addison Russell (27) hits an RBI double scoring left fielder Kyle Schwarber (not pictured) in the second inning against the Atlanta Braves at SunTrust Park. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

"I kind of think we dodged a bullet there," Maddon said. "... I don't anticipate a long process here."

Bryant is hitting .275 with 19 home runs and 40 RBIs this season.

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