Heyward eyes Wednesday return from sore back

LOS ANGELES -- When Jason Heyward exited Monday afternoon's game with lower back discomfort, he knew the cross-country flight he would take a few hours later would prove to be anything but therapeutic.

While the flight from Atlanta to Los Angeles certainly did not help matters, Heyward was hopeful that he would be ready to return to the starting lineup for Wednesday night's game against the Dodgers. He missed Tuesday night's series opener as he continued to undergo treatment at Dodger Stadium.

"I'm getting treatment, doing a lot of stretching and trying to get this thing loosened up a little bit better and make it a little easier to move around," Heyward said. "These past couple days, it's been pretty tight."

Heyward's back began bothering him after he ranged into foul territory attempting to catch a ball during Thursday night's game against the Marlins. The 24-year-old right fielder played through discomfort the next two days, but sat on Sunday and played just three innings during Monday's series finale against the Padres.

"[The flight] wasn't the most comfortable thing to sit through," Heyward said. "I did get up and walk around. It didn't kill me on the fight, but it didn't help me either."