Ethier avoids DL, is day to day

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier will not be put on the disabled list with a strained oblique muscle.

Instead, he will be considered day to day, according to ESPN Los Angeles.

Ethier left Wednesday's game in the first inning against the San Francisco Giants after a checked swing against right-hander Tim Lincecum. Ethier was not in Thursday night's lineup at home against the New York Mets.

"Andre had pretty good news. Really good news," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "(Wednesday) I kind of assumed that we were going to be in a DL situation, but really the (doctors) looked at him and didn't see any swelling. Couldn't be any better, as far as the news for Andre is concerned."

Ethier is batting .291 with 10 home runs and 55 RBI.

The Dodgers called up outfielder Scott Van Slyke from Class AAA Albuquerque and sent infielder Ivan De Jesus down. Van Slyke batted .194 (6 of 31) with a home run and six RBI in 17 games earlier this season with the Dodgers. Van Slyke batted .306 for the Isotopes in 16 games since.