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Ethier shut down 7-10 days with herniated disc

Ralph Freso / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier was diagnosed Tuesday with a mild herniated disc in his back, manager Dave Roberts said, and will be shut down from baseball activity for the next 7-10 days, reports MLB.com's Ken Gurnick.

Ethier, who was sent for an MRI after being scratched from Sunday's exhibition game against Japan, received an epidural to alleviate the discomfort in his lower back, Roberts added, though he wouldn't speculate on the 34-year-old's status for Opening Day.

Roberts did note, however, that Ethier's injury isn't as severe as the herniated disc that sidelined ace Clayton Kershaw for more than two months in 2016.

Limited to just 16 games last year after fracturing his tibia in March, Ethier, a two-time All-Star, had been swinging the bat well in spring training before hurting his back, going 6-for-12 (.500) with one home run, one double, and six walks in eight Cactus League games.

Heading into the last guaranteed year of a six-year, $95.95-million extension, Ethier is expected to compete for playing time in a crowded outfield that's also set to feature Joc Pederson, Yasiel Puig, Andrew Toles, Franklin Gutierrez, and Trayce Thompson.

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