Weeks says he only needs a day

The Brewers expect to have second baseman Rickie Weeks back atop the starting lineup Sunday after he missed Saturday’s start with a sprained left pinkie finger.

Weeks was hurt sliding into second base in the sixth inning of the Brewers’ win over the Astros. He said he underwent a precautionary x-ray, which was negative.

“It’s feeling sore right now,” Weeks said. “They’re giving me the day off today and I’ll be back in there tomorrow.”

Manager Ron Roenicke said Weeks could have played Saturday, but with right-hander Brett Myers going for the Astros on Saturday night and left-hander Wandy Rodriguez pitching Sunday, it made sense to give Weeks the day.

“It takes some persuading, yes,” Roenicke said. “We went in the cage and swung some, and it’s still a little bit sore. He’s a tough guy, but I told him I don’t want him to alter the way he’s going to hold the bat on his hand and then all of a sudden take a chance on something.”

Weeks is indeed a tough guy. Roenicke’s predecessor, had a photo of Weeks being hit flush in the left cheek by a pitch enlarged so he could hang it behind his desk at Miller Park. Weeks didn’t miss a single at-bat after that incident.

He’s been a tough out for the Astros’ Rodriguez. Weeks is a career .333 hitter against the lefty (9-for-27) with a home run, three doubles and four RBIs.

*

Follow Brew Beat on Twitter.