HOUSTON -- The Astros will be without starting third baseman Alex Bregman for at least this weekend¡¯s series against the White Sox at Minute Maid Park after he came down with a swollen right elbow while the club was sweeping the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg earlier this week.

Bregman said Friday he slept on his arm ¡°wrong¡± and had some swelling in the elbow. An MRI showed no structural damage, and he stressed it¡¯s not an injury that will land him on the injured list. Mauricio Dub¨®n started at third in Friday¡¯s series opener against the White Sox at Minute Maid Park. Bregman previously underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow in January 2019.

¡°I feel like a few days and I¡¯ll be able to come back strong and feel good,¡± Bregman said. ¡°I have no damage to any of the ligaments or anything like that. Just something I¡¯m going to have to be able to take a few days [off] for.

¡°Obviously, it¡¯s pretty unfortunate, because I¡¯m swinging the bat well right now and playing really well. Hopefully, come back in a few days and be ready to roll. Yeah, this has no long-term effect or anything like that. It¡¯s just something I¡¯ve got to knock out right now and get back to playing.¡±

Bregman is hitting .261 with 19 homers and 59 RBIs this year after going 0-for-4 Wednesday. He had homered in Houston¡¯s four previous games and was named the American League Co-Player of the Week last week after hitting .444 with three doubles, three homers and six RBIs.

Bregman was hitting .201/.270/.264 with one home run through May 8 before rounding into form. He¡¯s hitting .288/.338/.518 with 18 homers and 48 RBIs in 83 games since May 9 and .340/.375/.717 with five homers and eight RBIs in 12 games in August.

Bregman reported the pain to the Astros following Wednesday¡¯s game and decided he needed to take a few days off.

¡°Moreso, I needed to nip it in the bud and make sure I¡¯m good for the rest of the year,¡± he said.

The Astros have been without All-Star slugger Kyle Tucker, who had 19 homers in the team¡¯s first 61 games, since he fouled a ball off his shin June 3, so the middle of Houston¡¯s lineup is even thinner with the absence of Bregman.

¡°He¡¯s going to be back in a couple of days,¡± Astros manager Joe Espada said. ¡°You want him in there every day, but I like the boys who go out there right now and can compete and give us a chance to win.¡±