Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich is returning to Milwaukee for an MRI on his strained lower back.

The 2018 NL MVP had been eligible to be activated from the injured list for this weekend’s three-game series with the Chicago Cubs.

“Nothing bad happened yesterday,” Manager Craig Counsell said. “He did the day of work that we were expecting. We’re just at a plateau, and so we’re just trying to rule everything out and see if we can get any new bit, just another piece of information. It’s frustrating for Christian.”

The Brewers also said they placed left-hander Brett Anderson on the injured list and recalled right-hander Phil Bickford from their alternate site.

Yelich hasn’t played since April 11. The Brewers placed him on the injured list April 17, with the move retroactive to April 14.

ASTROS: Houston second baseman Jose Altuve said Saturday that he tested positive for COVID-19 but he never felt bad and hopes to return to the lineup soon.

“I felt really good all the way through, and I feel really good right now,” he said. “And I’m happy to be back here.”

The 2017 AL MVP was among five Astros who were placed on the COVID-19 list on April 14. The four other players returned to the roster within a few days, but Altuve remained on the list until Friday.

Altuve still hasn’t been added to the active roster, and it’s unclear how much time he’ll need before that happens.

Altuve said Saturday that he received the first dose of one of the two-dose COVID-19 vaccines before testing positive, and that he has no idea how he contracted the virus.

CARDINALS: Catcher Yadier Molina was available as a “super emergency guy” on Saturday, a day after the nine-time All-Star exited early with soreness in his right foot.

“The initial imaging turned out favorably but they want to do more so he can move it around a little more to make sure there’s no impairment to it,” manager Mike Shildt said. “If that’s the case, it’s really good news. We’re optimistic about it.”

During his at-bat in the fifth inning Friday night against Cincinnati, Molina hurt his right foot and left the game.