PHILADELPHIA -- Kyle Schwarber is an imposing force atop the Phillies¡¯ lineup.

They don¡¯t want to lose him to injury, even for a day.

• Most leadoff home runs in a season

Perhaps they got lucky on Tuesday night. Schwarber hit his 14th leadoff home run of the season in a 9-4 victory over the Rays at Citizens Bank Park, setting the MLB single-season record. He had been tied with Alfonso Soriano (13 for the 2003 Yankees).

Schwarber crushed a 1-0 fastball from Rays right-hander Taj Bradley to right-center field. The ball left his bat at 113.9 mph and traveled a projected 437 feet, according to Statcast. But Schwarber left the game before he hit in the fourth because of what Phillies manager Rob Thomson called a bruised left elbow -- ¡°a little bit of a hyperextension.¡± Thomson said, however, that he plans to put Schwarber in Wednesday¡¯s lineup with the hopes that he can play.

Schwarber hurt himself when he dove headfirst back into first base on a pickoff attempt in the third inning. He used his left arm to reach for the bag.

¡°I guess I just hit it on the right spot diving back,¡± Schwarber said. ¡°I didn¡¯t even feel pain or anything. It was just more when I got back to the dugout. I extended [the arm] and I was like, 'Huh, that was weird.' I went down, took a swing and it didn¡¯t feel good. I told the trainer. He worked on it. It got better and I tried to let one rip, and it wasn¡¯t really cooperating.¡±

Schwarber said the elbow ¡°swelled up a little bit,¡± but there is nothing structurally wrong.

¡°Tomorrow, if I can stand it, then [I'll] play,¡± he said.

Schwarber is batting .251 with 35 homers, 95 RBIs and an .868 OPS this season. He would be missed atop the Phillies¡¯ lineup, even for a game or two. He has hit 139 homers since he joined the Phillies in 2022, including the postseason. The Phillies are 83-36 (.697) when he homers.

Schwarber said the leadoff home run record is nice, but it is something that he will appreciate more after his playing career.