JUPITER, Fla. --David Freese was sidelined for the second consecutive game Saturday and also was withheld from regular drills as he dealt with soreness in his lower back.

The St. Louis Cardinals third baseman said the discomfort began March 4 when a gate at Roger Dean Stadium collapsed and he fell into the stands while trying to make a play on a foul popup.

"Nothing serious at all," Freese said as he walked toward his car in the player's parking lot. "It's just banged up a little bit. We're just going to hang out for a couple of days and let it get back to normal, but it's nothing serious.

"It's a movement issue. It's borderline subtle, but it's definitely there. It was just something that was always there, so why not just (let it) calm down and get this thing right?"

Freese doesn't know when he will be able to play again.

"We'll figure that out," he said.

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny isn't overly concerned.

"His back is just still tight from before," Matheny said. "We've just got to listen to him and understand that's not something that's real conducive to being able to do your job on a baseball field.

"We'll just keep watching him and keep a close eye. He'll get through it. We just need to watch him and try and put a good schedule together for when he can get out there."

Freese has had more than his share of injuries in his four seasons with the Cardinals, but he said none have been similar to the one he is experiencing with his back.

"I've never fallen in the stands like that, I don't think," Freese said. "It just happened. It's something I'm going to take care of and I'll get back out there.

"This isn't the important part of the year. We're all good."

-- Contact reporter David Wilhelm at dwilhelm@bnd.com or 239-2665.