Manager Dave Martinez said Wednesday that Romero has been shut down due to a stiff back, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Romero threw at spring training Monday but has been experiencing soreness since then. As a result, he'll have some time to rest to prevent a more serious injury. It's not yet clear how much time the left-hander is expected to be sidelined or whether the shutdown will impact his availability for the start of the regular season. Romero missed the start of the 2021 campaign with a rib injury and pitched exclusively in the minors after returning to game action.