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Scott Van Slyke dealing with back issue

This was mostly an excuse to use this picture of Scott Van Slyke from Saturday.
This was mostly an excuse to use this picture of Scott Van Slyke from Saturday.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers outfielder Scott Van Slyke is dealing with a back injury that will likely make him unavailable for Wednesday night's game. The Dodgers have been vague with the details, only to say the injury is minor and not one that would require a stint on the disabled list.

Van Slyke was not available on Tuesday after playing Monday night. He is not starting against left-hander Alex Wood on Tuesday, just the fourth time in 49 games against southpaw starters since the start of 2014 that Van Slyke didn't start.

"He had some back stuff going on the other day. We want to be a little careful with him," manager Don Mattingly said. "There are aspects he is available, and aspects that he's pretty much not."

The Dodgers are off Thursday, so holding Van Slyke out Wednesday would give him three straight days of rest.

The injury was serious enough for the Dodgers to recall outfielder Chris Heisey from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

"Slyke's been bothered by a little thing in his back. It's not big, but it's limiting," Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. "Being at 12 position players is hard enough, so just to get back to the more traditional 13 position players and 12 pitchers for the short term. We'll get through today, then see where we're at."

Heisey is starting in right field on Wednesday.

Kiké Hernandez, who has started all three outfield positions and at shortstop this season for the Dodgers, is also limited on Wednesday.

"He's got some little stuff going on too, so we have to watch him from the other day," Mattingly said. "He's a guy that's useable, but I'm trying to get him another day, with the off day Thursday."