MILWAUKEE -- Brewers third baseman Mike Moustakas is “unlikely” to start Tuesday’s game against the Cardinals because of a left hand injury he sustained in a 12-2 loss to St. Louis on Monday at Miller Park. A painful start to the Brewers’ series opener against the National League Central-leading Cardinals

MILWAUKEE -- Brewers third baseman Mike Moustakas is “unlikely” to start Tuesday’s game against the Cardinals because of a left hand injury he sustained in a 12-2 loss to St. Louis on Monday at Miller Park.

A painful start to the Brewers’ series opener against the National League Central-leading Cardinals hurt even more when Moustakas was forced from the game with pain in his left palm and wrist after being struck by a Harrison Bader 107.2 mph ground ball leading off the top of the second. The baseball caromed in the air and eluded Moustakas for an infield hit that sparked a six-run outburst against Gio Gonzalez, including two unearned runs after Moustakas was charged with a throwing error on a Yadier Molina bouncer.

“He’s sore,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “X-rays were negative. It’s a left hand contusion right now. He’s probably unlikely for [Tuesday]. It was a very hard-hit ball and it took a tricky hop with a little sidespin on the ball, and it clipped him pretty good on the left palm.”

The Brewers had plenty of infield coverage to respond to Moustakas’ exit, with Cory Spangenberg shifting from shortstop to third base and Hernan Perez entering at shortstop. But Moustakas has been a good source of power for Milwaukee this season, with 31 home runs. That’s seven shy of his career high, and second on the team this season to NL MVP Award candidate Christian Yelich.