Chase Utley Injury: Updates on Phillies Star’s Oblique

Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley has caught the injury bug again. 

Utley is heading to the 15-day disabled list with what the team is calling a “very mild” Grade 1 oblique strain, according to a report from Mike Axisa of CBS Sports. Philadelphia expects Utley to return to the lineup within the next two to four weeks. 

The move is retroactive to May 21, and an MRI on Thursday did not reveal any further intercostal or ribcage damage. 

Utley’s latest DL stint will mark the fourth time in the last four seasons that he’s missed time during the regular season due to injury.

Philadelphia has not yet made a roster move to replace Utley on the 25-man list. Freddy Galvis and Kevin Frandsen will likely get the bulk of the playing time at second base while Utley recovers from his latest trip to baseball’s medical haven. 

A five-time All-Star, Utley was off to a good start to the 2013 campaign. Hitting .272 with seven home runs and 25 RBI in 44 games this year, Utley isn’t exactly lighting the world on fire but is a steady contributor to Charlie Manuel’s lineup and a proven veteran presence.

It looks like Utley’s trip to the DL is nothing more than a precaution for the Phillies, who were 5.5 games out of first place behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East heading into Thursday night’s action. When it comes to Utley’s status, though, Phillies fans have learned to take nothing for granted when he is forced to miss time via injury. 

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com