CHICAGO _ It will be a few days before Angels center fielder Mike Trout returns to the lineup.
The team announced Friday that Trout will miss the three-game series against the Chicago Cubs this weekend as he recovers from a right groin strain, which he sustained earlier this week.
Trout stayed behind in Southern California to visit team physician Dr. Steve Yoon. Imaging of his groin revealed "a reduced amount of swelling to the groin," general manger Billy Eppler said via a team news release. Trout will continue treatment in Anaheim and be reevaluated Sunday.
Trout has continued to report improvement since sustaining the injury. He is expected to avoid a stint on the injured list, manager Brad Ausmus said at Wrigley Field before Friday's game.
Trout could rejoin the Angels on Monday when they start a four-game series against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas.
"It's just a matter of how he feels and what the doctors think," Ausmus said.
Injuries can worsen in cold temperatures, so it's likely the weather in Chicago factored into the Angels' decision to keep Trout in Southern California. A snow system that is expected to move into the Great Lakes could produce snow in Chicago on Sunday.
Trout was hurt Tuesday at Angel Stadium. He appeared to first feel soreness in his groin when he slid feet-first into second base on an inning-ending force out in the second inning. He immediately grabbed his right leg upon standing up, but played one more inning in the field.
Trout, who was pulled before the start of the fourth inning of the Angels' victory over the Milwaukee Brewers, sounded optimistic when he spoke to reporters on Wednesday. He was also cautious, stating that he didn't want to rush his return to the lineup for fear of aggravating the injury.
"I don't want this thing to be a six-week thing if I go out there and hurt it more," he said. "I have to make sure I'm 100 percent. The progress it made overnight, I'm really happy about it."
