Angels’ Mike Trout misses another game but says MRI test ‘clean’

Mike Trout said an MRI exam of his ailing back came back negative, but the Angels outfielder remained out of the lineup for Wednesday night’s game.

Trout missed games Saturday and Sunday in Oakland because of stiffness in his back. He left after the first inning in a game Tuesday night against the Astros at Minute Maid Park after the back pain returned.

That prompted the Angels to send Trout, 22, to a doctor in Houston for the MRI exam Wednesday.

“The MRI was clean, it was just some inflammation in my mid-left back,” Trout said. “It’s definitely good news.”

Trout, who leads Major League Baseball in votes for this year’s All-Star game, said he hoped to play again within the next couple of days.

“I’m not going to do much today, probably just going to throw and see if I can hit in the [batting] cage,” he said. “[I’ll] see how I feel tomorrow and maybe go tomorrow.”