Goldschmidt returning to Arizona for MRI on ailing elbow

After being held out of the Arizona Diamondbacks' lineup for the second consecutive game, first baseman Paul Goldschmidt is returning to Phoenix for an MRI on his right elbow, the team confirmed.

Manager Torey Lovullo told MLB.com's Steve Gilbert that Goldschmidt wanted to play in Monday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but was ultimately left off the lineup card. It marked the first time all season that the MVP candidate sat out of back-to-back contests.

The team expects its star first baseman to return to Los Angeles following the MRI on Tuesday morning, and said he might be able to play as soon as that evening.

Discomfort in Goldschmidt's elbow flared up at the start of Arizona's last homestand, he told Gilbert, while adding that it only bothers him in the morning and hasn't been a hindrance during games.

Goldschmidt has been an integral part of the Diamondbacks' success in 2017, batting .314/.424/.597 with 33 home runs, 109 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases. The team, currently riding a 10-game winning streak, can't afford to lose him for long.