When Andre Ethier strained his oblique while sliding into a base, it looked like terrible news for a Dodgers team that badly misses Matt Kemp. Ethier's been a highly productive hitter in a lineup that needs those, and oblique strains generally require DL stints. Some of them require absences lasting up to and beyond a month. Thankfully, at least for now, it seems Ethier might be all right. Word:

Don Mattingly said Andre Ethier is day-to-day for now. Oblique strain is on "good side."

— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) June 28, 2012

This has to be considered tentative, because it's so unusual for an oblique strain to just be a minor, day-to-day complication. The Dodgers will continue to re-evaluate matters and Ethier might still end up on the disabled list. But what seems clear is that Ethier's strain isn't that bad, so even if he does go on the DL shortly, he might not be out long. And he might not go on the DL. Oblique strains can be nasty, but I suppose not every oblique strain is always that nasty.