Josh Hamilton is slowed last Wednesday by a sore lower back. (Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press)

Texas Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton received a second injection Monday to ease the pain of a pinched nerve in his lower back.

Hamilton, 27, likely won't return to the lineup until next weekend, when Texas begins a nine-game homestand.

"It supposedly went well and he is resting well," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "They say it will be 24 or 48 hours before we know if it takes [and] if it does, hopefully he will be back to normal on Friday."

Hamilton, hampered by a sore back for weeks now, hasn't played since pulling himself out of last Wednesday's 6-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

The all-star outfielder had a shot the next day and travelled with the team to Baltimore, but took a flight home to Texas on Sunday.

"We're not going to bring him back here," Washington told reporters in Cleveland, where the Rangers were rained out Monday.

"It wouldn't make any sense. He might as well stay there until we get back."

Hamilton is hitting .270 with 10 home runs, 49 runs batted in and 43 runs scored in 87 games this season, his third in the major leagues.

With files from The Associated Press