MRI brings good news for David Freese

Cardinals third baseman David Freese underwent an MRI Monday on his injured back and general manager John Mozeliak said the team was encouraged by the results, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. 

No structural damage was found in Freese's back and the third baseman was given an anti-inflammatory injection. He should be cleared to resume playing in games by later in the week. 

That said, the Cardinals will have him avoid playing in major league spring training games and keep him on the minor league side of camp so he can be backdated for a disabled list stint, if necessary. 

Freese was injured three weeks back when he fell into the stands chasing down a foul ball.