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Atlanta Braves

8/15/2006

Andruw Jones, atl

Jones was dropped from the Braves' lineup shortly before their game against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night because of a left knee injury. The Braves said Jones has patellar tendinitis in his left knee. Jones was replaced in center by Ryan Langerhans, while Adam LaRoche was moved up from seventh in the batting order to Jones' cleanup spot.

8/13/2006

Andruw Jones, atl

Jones' bases-loaded walk on Sunday against the Milwaukee Brewers gives him 100 RBIs for the fifth time in his career.

Horacio Ramirez, atl

Ramirez was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Friday with a sprained middle finger. He is expected to miss at least one month and possibly the remainder of the season for the Atlanta Braves.

Willy Aybar, atl

The Atlanta Braves placed Aybar on the 15-day disabled list on Saturday with a broken bone in his left hand and a sprained left middle finger. He suffered the injury after trying to slide during a stolen base attempt on July 30, but tried to play through the injury until it became too painful.

8/12/2006

John Smoltz, atl

Smoltz pitched his third complete game of the season when he allowed one run and five hits with eight strikeouts in nine innings for the Braves in a 2-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday. The 39-year-old right-hander has won six consecutive games over eight starts with a 2.79 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 58 innings. He has not lost since dropping his third start in a row on June 13 against the Florida Marlins.

8/9/2006

Adam LaRoche, atl

LaRoche was a late scratch from the Braves' lineup Tuesday. He's been bothered by a sore left wrist since being struck with a pitch by Cincinnati's Bronson Arroyo on Saturday. LaRoche started the last two games, going 1-for-7 with an RBI. Scott Thorman took over at first for his ailing teammate.

8/8/2006

Chipper Jones, atl

Jones took batting practice from the left side before the game. Jones has been on the 15-day disabled list since July 29 with a strained left oblique muscle. The switch-hitter reinjured his side while batting left-handed, forcing him onto the DL for the second time this season. "It felt good," said Jones, who is eligible to come off the DL after Sunday's game against Milwaukee.

Horacio Ramirez, atl

Ramirez left Monday's with an injured finger in the fifth.

8/3/2006

Adam LaRoche, atl

LaRoche left the Braves' 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday, after hitting a fifth-inning double and straining his right hamstring by sliding into second. The first baseman is listed as day-to-day, but is not expected to return to the lineup on Thursday.

7/30/2006

Chipper Jones, atl

The Braves placed Jones back on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with a strained left oblique muscle. Jones' latest injury comes as the Braves are completing a disappointing six-game homestand, losing series against Florida and the New York Mets.

7/24/2006

Chipper Jones, atl

Jones has missed two straight games with a torso injury. He is considered day-to-day.

Andruw Jones, atl

Jones has missed two straight games with a back injury. He is considered day-to-day.

7/20/2006

Bob Wickman, atl

Wickman was traded by the Indians to the Atlanta Braves on Thursday in exchange for Class A catcher Max Ramirez. The 37-year-old closer has been successful on 15 of 18 save chances this season. "We had a need to bolster our bullpen," Braves general manager John Schuerholz said.

7/19/2006

Andruw Jones, atl

Jones was 5-for-5 with two homers, a double and matched his career-high with six RBIs in Tuesday's 14-5 win over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Willy Aybar, atl

Aybar was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday after Dodgers third baseman Jeff Kent was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left oblique strain. Aybar was hitting .315 with 10 homers and 41 RBIs for Las Vegas. The 23-year-old infielder went 2-for-4 in Tuesday's 4-1 victory over Arizona and is batting .282 with 21 RBIs in 36 games for the Dodgers this season.

7/18/2006

Chipper Jones, atl

Jones had three singles in Monday's 15-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals, but saw his streak of consecutive games with an extra base hit end at 14. The Braves' third baseman tied the record set by Paul Waner for Pittsburgh in 1927. Jones had eight doubles, a triple and seven homers during the streak.

7/17/2006

Chipper Jones, atl

Jones hit a two-run homer in the Braves' 10-5 win over the San Diego Padres on Sunday to give him an extra-base hit in 14 straight games, tying a 79-year-old major league record.

7/6/2006

Chipper Jones, atl

Jones was back in the starting lineup on Wednesday after receiving an encouraging report from a foot specialist in the Atlanta area. He had missed the previous three games after an MRI had showed a partial tear of the plantar plate and the second toe in his right foot.

Chris Reitsma, atl

Reitsma learned on Wednesday he will need season-ending surgery because of ulnar neuritis, a condition that is causing numbness in his fingers. The right-handed reliever will seek a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews on July 17. He may need either Tommy John surgery, which would keep him out for a year, or an ulnar nerve transposition procedure, which would keep him out six months.

7/4/2006

John Smoltz, atl

Smoltz won for the first time in eight starts in the Braves' 6-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday. The 39-year-old Atlanta right-hander allowed three runs and seven hits, striking out seven, in six innings.

Chipper Jones, atl

Jones will see a foot specialist Tuesday after an MRI showed a partial tear of the plantar plate and the second toe in his right foot. Braves spokesman Brad Hainje, reading from a statement, said the injury is similar to but not as severe as the one Jones had in his left foot last season when he missed 37 games. Atlanta manager Bobby Cox held Jones out of the starting lineup for the second straight game Monday, starting Wilson Betemit in his place.

7/3/2006

Edgar Renteria, atl

Renteria was selected to his fifth All-Star team Sunday and will be a reserve shortstop for the National League. He is hitting .304 with eight homers and 32 RBIs this season.

Andruw Jones, atl

Jones was selected to his fifth All-Star team Sunday and will be a reserve outfielder for the National League. He is hitting .275 with 18 homers and 66 RBIs this season.

Brian McCann, atl

McCann was selected to his first All-Star team Sunday and will be a reserve catcher for the National League. He is hitting .354 with five homers and 23 RBIs this season.

7/1/2006

Chris Reitsma, atl

Reitsma was activated from the 15-day disabled list Friday after missing 17 days with a condition that caused numbness in the fingers on his pitching hand. The 28-year-old Braves reliever said the ulnar neuritis in his right arm has cleared. He was available to pitch in Friday night's game against the Baltimore Orioles.

6/25/2006

John Smoltz, atl

Smoltz expects to make his next scheduled start Wednesday against the New York Yankees. The Braves' right-hander had a bullpen seesion on Sunday, just two days after spraining his right groin in a 4-3 victory over Tampa Bay. "I'm confident that Wednesday will go fine," Smoltz said. "I'm going to throw again tomorrow. Tomorrow will be a tuneup for Wednesday. Something would have to really go wrong for me not to pitch on Wednesday."

Mike Remlinger, atl

Remlinger was designated for assignment on Saturday to make room on the Braves' roster for left-hander Chuck James. Remlinger made 36 relief appearances for Atlanta this season, posting a 2-4 record with a 4.03 ERA through 22 1-3 innings.

Brian Jordan, atl

Jordan is expected to miss six to eight weeks with a non-displaced fracture of his right clavicle. The Braves' veteran went on the disabled list on June 18 after he was struck near the collarbone on a ball hit by Boston's Alex Cora. Jordan then aggravated the injury before Saturday's 3-2 defeat to Tampa Bay. "He was throwing some balls out there and he popped it," Atlanta manager Bobby Cox said. "I guess the stress from getting hit made it weak."

Blaine Boyer, atl

Boyer was recalled from Triple-A Richmond on Saturday and placed on the 60-day disabled list to make room on the Braves' 40-man roster for reliever Kevin Barry. Boyer had surgery on his right shoulder in April after making just two relief appearances this season.

Chuck James, atl

James was recalled from Triple-A Richmond and will start Sunday when Atlanta visits Tampa Bay. The Braves' left-hander has made seven relief appearances this season, but will be making his first major league start. James, who has a 2.38 ERA through 11 1-3 innings, has not taken the mound for Atlanta since May 5 after being sidelined with a strained right hamstring.

6/24/2006

John Smoltz, atl

Smoltz strained his right groin in the second inning and left Friday night's 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The 39-year-old Atlanta right-hander is listed as day-to-day. Smoltz appeared to hurt himself when he followed through on a pitch and took a couple of steps toward the first-base line to pursue Damon Hollins' slow dribbler. The ball stayed fair for an infield single.

6/18/2006

Brian Jordan, atl

Jordan was placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Braves with a bruised collarbone.

6/16/2006

John Thomson, atl

The Atlanta Braves placed Thomson on the 15-day disabled list Friday with a blister on the middle finger of his right hand. The Braves' right-handed pitcher developed the blister during Wednesday's start against the Florida Marlins. To replace him on roster, Atlanta recalled Lance Cormier from Triple-A Richmond.

5/27/2006

Brian McCann, atl

McCann was placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Atlanta Braves on Saturday, due to a sprained left ankle. The 22-year-old catcher suffered the injury during a collision with Arizona's Eric Byrnes in a 13-0 Atlanta loss on May 20. He has made one pinch-hit appearance since the play.

5/21/2006

Brian McCann, atl

McCann, the National League's leading hitter, left Saturday's 13-0 loss to Arizona with a sprained left ankle after a play at the plate in the fourth inning. The injury occurred when Arizona's Eric Byrnes ran into McCann at the plate, scoring the game's first run. McCann was blocking the plate and dropped the ball after he was hit. He then had to be helped from the field.

5/17/2006

Kyle Davies, atl

Davies had an MRI exam Tuesday on the right groin muscle he injured in his Monday start against the Florida Marlins. The diagnosis is a strained groin, but the Atlanta right-hander was scheduled to visit a specialist Wednesday to determine the severity of the injury. There is concern he could miss a month or more.

5/16/2006

Kyle Davies, atl

Davies left Atlanta's 11-8 win over Florida Monday with an injured right groin. The Atlanta right-hander bent over in pain after throwing a pitch to Florida catcher Miguel Olivo in the third inning, then walked slowly to the dugout. Davies is expected to go on the disabled list. In eight starts this season, he is 2-3 with a 6.12 ERA.

Brian McCann, atl

McCann went 3-for-5, hit a three-run homer and drove in a career-high five runs in Atlanta's 11-8 victory over Florida Monday night. The Atlanta catcher has hit safely in eight of his last nine games, batting .438 (14-for-32) with four doubles, two homers and 12 RBIs. For the season, he is the National League batting leader at .352, with five home runs and 19 RBIs in 34 games.

5/11/2006

Willy Aybar, atl

The Los Angeles Dodgers have placed Jason Repko on the 15-day disabled list with an ankle sprain and recalled Aybar to take his roster spot. The 23-year-old Aybar, a promising infield prospect, was leading the Triple-A Pacific Coast League with 44 hits and 33 RBIs. His .358 batting average was fifth-best in the league, and he had seven home runs.

5/8/2006

Edgar Renteria, atl

Renteria's hitting streak has reached 23 games after a 2-for-5 performance in Atlanta's 13-3 win over the New York Mets Sunday. In 22 games this season, he's batting .351 with 16 runs scored and 12 RBIs.

5/7/2006

Jeff Francoeur, atl

Francoeur went 3-for-6 with a three-run homer, a triple and three runs scored in the Braves' 13-3 win over the Mets on Sunday.

5/6/2006

Edgar Renteria, atl

Renteria had a sixth-inning double in the Braves' 6-5 loss to the Mets on Saturday to extend his hitting streak to 22 games.

5/5/2006

Edgar Renteria, atl

Renteria has a 20-game hitting streak and has hit safely in all 19 games he has played for the Braves this season. The 30-year-old veteran is batting .375 with five doubles, two homers and 11 RBIs in 2006.

5/4/2006

Edgar Renteria, atl

Renteria's hitting streak reached 19 games Wednesday with a sixth-inning single in Atlanta's 5-4 loss to Philadelphia. The Atlanta shortstop has hit safely in all 18 games he's played this season, and he's batting .364 with two homers and 11 RBIs.

5/3/2006

Edgar Renteria, atl

Renteria had two hits for a third straight game Tuesday. The Atlanta shortstop went 2-for-5 in the Braves' 5-4 win over Colorado to hit safely in his 17th straight game this season. He also had a hit in his final game of the 2005 season before collecting at least one hit in all 17 games he has played in 2006. Renteria is batting .375 with five doubles and two homers this season, plus 11 runs scored and 11 driven in. His on-base percentage is .416 and he's slugging .528.

5/2/2006

Edgar Renteria, atl

Renteria has hit safely in every game he's played this season, and the Atlanta shortstop has a 16-game hitting streak going into Tuesday night's home game against Colorado. He missed nine games in the middle of his streak with a rib cage injury, but has gone 6-for-15 (.400) since returning on April 28.

Tim Hudson, atl

Hudson gave up a hit to the opposing pitcher Monday, en route to the second one-hitter of his career and a 2-0 victory. The Braves' right-hander allowed a single Colorado right-hander Jason Jennings with two outs in the third inning, then retired the last 17 batters he faced. "That's kind of tough to take," said Hudson. "He's probably one of the better-hitting pitchers out there, but . . . it would have been better if it was a cleanup hitter."

4/30/2006

Macay McBride, atl

McBride was activated from the disabled list by the Braves on Sunday. The 23-year-old left-handed reliever has been sidelined since spring training after straining his left forearm. He began an injury rehab assignment on April 10 and pitched a total of seven games at Triple-A Richmond and Double-A Mississippi. To open a roster spot with the big league club, Atlanta optioned infielder Tony Pena to Richmond.

Tony Pena, atl

Pena was optioned to Triple-A Richmond on Sunday after reliever Macay McBride was activated from the disabled list. Pena, the son of former major league catcher and manager Tony Pena, was called up from the minors on April 10 and played in six games. He went 1-for-9 with three strikeouts.

4/26/2006

Chipper Jones, atl

Returning from a sprained right knee and ankle, Jones hit a two-run homer Tuesday to account for all of Atlanta's scoring in a 4-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. The Braves' third baseman, who last appeared in a game on April 9, is hitting .280 (7-for-25) with a double, homer and eight RBIs.

4/24/2006

Chipper Jones, atl

Jones is on course to be activated from the disabled list Tuesday. The Atlanta third baseman should be ready to go when the Braves open a series in Milwaukee. He has been out with a sprained right knee and ankle since April 9. Jones is hitting .238 (5-for-21) with six RBIs in six games this season.

Edgar Renteria, atl

Renteria took some swings Saturday, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, but the Braves' shortstop was still sore and manager Bobby Cox decided to not play him on Sunday. Renteria, who has been out since April 15 after straining his side on a swing, could be ready to play Tuesday in Milwaukee.

Marcus Giles, atl

Giles, who sprained a ligament in his left middle finger Tuesday, took batting practice on Sunday. The Braves' infielder had his middle finger taped up for the hitting session.

4/20/2006

Edgar Renteria, atl

Renteria, bothered by a strained left rib muscle, could be back as soon as Sunday. What might keep the Atlanta shortstop out longer is a run of injuries to infielders that may force the Braves to DL Renteria to make room for a callup. They also are without Chipper Jones (spained ankle and knee) and Marcus Giles (sprained middle finger).

Marcus Giles, atl

An MRI exam revealed Giles has a sprained ligament in his left middle finger. The Atlanta second baseman was injured sliding into second base on a stolen base Tuesday in the Braves' 7-1 win over the New York Mets.

4/19/2006

Chipper Jones, atl

Jones, who is on the disabled list with a sprained right knee and ankle, has improved markedly. The Braves' Web site is reporting that the Atlanta third baseman is swinging from both sides of the plate without problems after the injuries had limited him from the left side.

Andruw Jones, atl

Jones homered twice in Atlanta's 7-1 win over the surging New York Mets Tuesday night. The Braves' center fielder stroked a pair of two-run bombs, both off Mets starter Victor Zambrano. Jones has homered in three straight games, and he is 6-for-12 with four home runs and seven RBIs in that span.

Marcus Giles, atl

According to the Braves' Web site, Giles arrived at Shea Stadium for Wednesday's game with a swollen and stiff left index finger. An MRI exam has been scheduled for the Atlanta second baseman, who was injured sliding into second base on a stolen base in Tuesday's 7-1 win over the Mets.

4/17/2006

Edgar Renteria, atl

Renteria suffered a strained left rib muscle Saturday and is expected to miss at least a week. It's possible the Braves' shortstop will be placed on the 15-day disabled list, but the team is waiting to see how he feels in the next few days before making a move.

4/14/2006

Blaine Boyer, atl

Boyer will have surgery on his right shoulder next week and is expected to miss three months, the Braves said Thursday. The relief pitcher was optioned to Triple-A Richmond last week after being diagnosed with right shoulder tendinitis. Boyer appeared in two games this season, allowing four hits, three earned runs and walking one batter.

4/11/2006

Andruw Jones, atl

Jones hit his third homer of the season -- a solo shot in the fifth off Brett Myers -- in the Braves' 5-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday.

Joey Devine, atl

Devine was sent down to Triple-A Richmond following Monday's game after two rough outings with the Braves to start the season. The 22-year-old Atlanta right-hander will be replaced in the bullpen by Australian Peter Moylan, who was signed in spring training after an impressive performance in the World Baseball Classic.

4/9/2006

Chipper Jones, atl

Jones sprained his right ankle and twisted his right knee in Sunday's 6-5 loss to the Giants. The Braves' third baseman was charging a ground ball when his spikes appeared to get caught in the soggy field and he hit the ground. Jones wore a walking cast on his ankle as he left the stadium and is expected to be re-examined Wednesday. He will likely miss Monday's home opener against the Phillies.

Marcus Giles, atl

Giles left Sunday's 6-5 loss to the Giants with a sore right quadriceps muscle. The Braves' second baseman and leadoff hitter is not expected to play in Monday's home opener against the Phillies.

4/6/2006

Horacio Ramirez, atl

The Atlanta Braves have placed Ramirez on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring. The Braves' left-hander was injured running to first base on a fourth-inning bunt in Atlanta's 9-8 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers Wednesday. He allowed eight hits and five runs in three innings before leaving for pinch-runner Jorge Sosa.

Blaine Boyer, atl

The Atlanta Braves optioned Boyer to Triple-A Richmond Thursday. The 24-year-old right-hander struggled in two relief appearances this week, allowing four hits, a walk and three earned runs in two-thirds of an inning.

Joey Devine, atl

The Atlanta Braves on Thursday optioned right-hander Blaine Boyer to Triple-A Richmond and recalled Devine from the same affiliate. Devine was optioned to Richmond before the season, despite posting a 2.25 ERA, a win, a save and 20 strikeouts in 12 innings in camp this spring.

3/29/2006

John Thomson, atl

Thomson has been bothered by tenderness in his right elbow as spring training winds down. The Atlanta Braves report the right-hander is day-to-day.

3/28/2006

Chris Reitsma, atl

Reitsma strained his left hamstring and had to leave in the ninth inning of Atlanta's Monday night exhibition game with the New York Yankees. The Braves' closer was in obvious discomfort after throwing a pitch that New York's Luis Garcia hit for a two-out single in the ninth.

2/28/2006

Tim Hudson, atl

If all goes well this spring, Hudson will be the Opening Day starter when the Braves kick off the new season against the Dodgers on April 3. That's the word from Atlanta manager Bobby Cox, who said the 30-year-old right-hander would get the call at Dodger Stadium. Hudson was 14-9 with a 3.52 ERA in 2005, his first season with Atlanta after Oakland dealt him for Juan Cruz, Charles Thomas and Dan Meyer in December 2004.

1/23/2006

Mike Remlinger, atl

Remlinger is returning to the Braves, agreeing Monday to a minor league contract that would pay him $700,000 if he's added to the major league roster. Remlinger pitched for Atlanta from 1999-2002, and is a 13-year major league veteran.

1/17/2006

Marcus Giles, atl

Giles and the Braves avoided salary arbitration, agreeing to a $3.85 million, one-year contract on Monday. The second baseman hit .291 with 15 home runs and 63 RBIs last season.

1/15/2006

Danys Baez, atl

The Los Angeles Dodgers strengthened their bullpen by acquiring Baez and fellow reliever Lance Carter from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays Saturday for two pitching prospects. Baez was Tampa Bay's closer in 2005, going 5-4 with a career-high 41 saves and a 2.86 ERA in 67 appearances.

1/6/2006

Chris Reitsma, atl

Reitsma agreed to a $2.75 million, one-year contract Friday with the Atlanta Braves, avoiding arbitration. The right-hander went 3-6 with a 3.93 ERA in 73 1/3 innings and led the Braves with 15 saves. He is scheduled to receive a $25,000 bonus if he finishes 40 games and $50,000 if he finishes 45.

12/9/2005

Wes Obermueller, atl

Obermueller was traded from Milwaukee to Atlanta on Thursday in exchange for Dan Kolb. The 28-year-old righthander was 1-4 with a 5.26 ERA for the Brewers in 2005. He split the season between Milwaukee and Triple-A Nashville.

12/8/2005

Bob Wickman, atl

Wickman agreed to terms with the Cleveland Indians on a one-year, $5 million contract on Wednesday. The 36-year-old All-Star tied a for the AL lead with a career-high 45 saves for the Indians in 2005.

Edgar Renteria, atl

Renteria has been traded to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for third baseman Andy Marte. The 30-year-old shortstop batted .276 with eight home runs and 70 RBI for the Red Sox in 2005.

12/7/2005

Oscar Villarreal, atl

The Arizona Diamondbacks have traded Villarreal and Lance Cormier to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for catcher Johnny Estrada. The right-hander missed the bulk of the 2005 campaign with a strained rotator cuff in his pitching shoulder. He finished the season 2-0 with a 5.27 ERA in 11 relief outings.

Lance Cormier, atl

The Arizona Diamondbacks have traded Cormier and fellow reliever Oscar Villarreal to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for catcher Johnny Estrada. The 25-year-old right-hander made 67 appearances with the major league club last season, going 7-3 with a 5.11 ERA.

12/2/2005

Chipper Jones, atl

Jones and the Atlanta Braves finalized a $37 million, three-year contract on Friday. The deal guarantees the third baseman an additional $15 million and saves the team $6 million. The Braves had been wanting to rework Jones' contract to try and sign other free agents.

11/21/2005

Michael Ryan, atl

Ryan has signed a minor league deal with the Atlanta Braves. The 28-year-old outfielder batted .231 with five doubles, two homers and 13 RBIs in 117 at-bats with Minnesota in 2005.

11/1/2005

John Thomson, atl

The Braves exercised their 2006 option on Thomson for $4.75 million.

Danys Baez, atl

The Devil Rays picked up their option on closer Baez, who will return to the team for 2006 to the tune of $4 million. Baez finished the year with 41 saves in 49 opportunities and a 2.86 ERA in 67 appearances, and was named to the American League All-Star team.

10/19/2005

Matt Diaz, atl

Diaz is in instructional league learning to catch. The 27-year-old outfielder is a lifetime .315 hitter in the minors, but he hasn't shown enough power to be valuable as a corner outfielder. If he can command the defensive skills of catching, Diaz stands a better chance of becoming an everyday player. Diaz batted .281 with seven extra-base hits in 89 at-bats for the Royals in 2005.

9/27/2005

John Smoltz, atl

As anticipated, Smoltz will sit out the remainder of the regular season, bypassing a start on Wednesday, in order to rest his sore right shoulder to prepare for the postseason.

9/25/2005

John Smoltz, atl

Still suffering from stiffness in his right shoulder, Smoltz is considering resting until the playoffs begin, rather than making one last start Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies. He is 14-7 with a 3.06 ERA for the Braves this year, striking out 169 in 229.2 innings over 33 starts.

Chipper Jones, atl

Jones hit his 20th home run of the season in the Braves' 6-1 win over the Florida Marlins Saturday, the 11th consecutive year that he has reached that mark.

9/20/2005

John Smoltz, atl

Due to a sore shoulder, Smoltz will skip his scheduled start on Wednesday against the Phillies. The All-Star's shoulder tightened up on him a couple of starts ago, and Braves management decided that it would be a good idea for the veteran to get some extra rest.

9/19/2005

Mike Hampton, atl

Hampton is scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery next Wednesday. The Atlanta lefthander, who has been out since August 20 with a herniated disc in his back, will not pitch in 2006. He will return for spring training in 2007.

9/15/2005

John Smoltz, atl

Smoltz is expected to make his Friday start against the Mets. The Atlanta righthander left his previous start against Washington on Sunday after seven innings because of a sore shoulder. Smoltz is expected to skip a turn or work a few shorter outings after the Braves have nailed down their position in the postseason.

Mike Hampton, atl

A recent setback has all but ended Hampton's 2005 season, and his 2006 campaign also could be in doubt. A recurring problem with tightness in his left forearm suggests Hampton may have a serious elbow injury. The Braves' southpaw will be examined on Thursday, and the Braves fear he may need offseason surgery that might jeopardize 2006 as well.

9/14/2005

Chipper Jones, atl

After straining his left quad on Monday, Jones sat out Atlanta's loss to Philadelphia on Tuesday. The Braves' third baseman says the injury isn't serious and he'll back in the lineup within a few days.

Andruw Jones, atl

In a 12-4 Atlanta loss to Philadelphia on Wednesday, Jones hit his 50th home run of the season, making him the first 50-homer guy since Alex Rodriguez (57) and Jim Thome (52) in 2002. In becoming the first Brave to ever hit 50, Jones also collected the 300th home run of his 10-year career. The 28-year-old center fielder became the 12th player in major league history to hit 300 homers before his 30th birthday.

Adam LaRoche, atl

After taking a hard grounder off his head on Sunday, LaRoche returned to action Tuesday as a defensive replacement late in Atlanta's 5-4 loss to Philadelphia. This may not mean an immediate return to the everyday lineup, but LaRoche should be back in Atlanta's batting order soon.

9/13/2005

John Smoltz, atl

Bothered by stiffness in his shoulder on Sunday, Smoltz said he may have to miss his scheduled start on Friday against the New York Mets. The Atlanta righthander had warned that he might need to skip a start or two for elbow or shoulder discomfort in 2005, his first full year as a starter since 1999, and that time may have come.

Chipper Jones, atl

Jones strained his left quad during the third inning against the Phillies on Monday. The Atlanta third baseman was removed from the game in the fifth inning as a precautionary measure. He was injured charging in to field a Kenny Lofton bunt, and then aggravated the injury while running out of the batter's box to try and prevent a double play in the fifth inning. Jones will be evaluated Tuesday to determine his status for the rest of the week.

9/12/2005

Mike Hampton, atl

The Atlanta Braves activated Hampton from the 15-day disabled list Sunday. The Atlanta lefthander, sidelined since August 20 with a herniated disc, isn't certain to return to the Braves' rotation. Manager Bobby Cox hasn't decided exactly how he will use Hampton.

Andruw Jones, atl

One day after tying the team mark for home runs, Jones moved into first by himself with two more homers on Sunday. He had shared the record with Eddie Matthews (1953) and Hank Aaron (1971) for just one day. This was the eighth multihomer game of the year for Jones.

Adam LaRoche, atl

LaRoche left Atlanta's win over Washington Sunday during the eighth inning, after taking a groundball to first base off his head. The hard-hit chopper bounded high and went over the first baseman's glove.

9/10/2005

Andruw Jones, atl

Jones tied the franchise mark for home runs in a season when he hit his 47th of the year during Saturday's win over the Washington Nationals. Jones' fourth-inning homer off of Livan Hernandez tied the mark held by Eddie Mathews (1953) and Hank Aaron (1971).

9/8/2005

Mike Hampton, atl

Hampton worked a simulated game and threw 70 pitches on Wednesday. His medical issues aren't limited to his back, as the Atlanta lefthander also is nursing forearm and knee problems. While Hampton has been activated from the disabled list, there is no timetable for his return and his array of ailments may keep him from working meaningful innings in September. If Hampton pitches for the Braves, he is likely to work out of the bullpen.

9/6/2005

Chipper Jones, atl

Jones hit a tie-breaking two-run homer in the eighth inning to lead the Braves to a 4-2 over the New York Mets Monday.

Andruw Jones, atl

Jones was named the National League Player of the Month for August, after slugging ,602 with 11 home runs and 29 RBI.

9/5/2005

Mike Hampton, atl

Hampton has been activated from the 15-day disabled list, but don't look for the Atlanta lefthander in the Atlanta rotation. He will work out of the Braves' pen after receiving an epidural injection in his lower back last weekend.

9/3/2005

Oscar Villarreal, atl

The Diamondbacks activated Villarreal from the 60-day disabled list on Friday. The pitcher had been sidelined since early April with a strained rotator cuff in his pitching shoulder. He has appeared in just two games this season, posting a 0-0 record with one save and a 6.75 ERA.

9/2/2005

John Smoltz, atl

Smoltz was bothered by a sore neck on Thursday, when the Atlanta righthander allowed seven hits and three runs to Washington over five frames. Smoltz, who left after 65 pitches, wasn't at his best.

9/1/2005

Brian Jordan, atl

Jordan has been activated from the 15-day disabled list by the Atlanta Braves and is expected to be available for Thursday's meeting with the Washington Nationals. The veteran outfielder has been sidelined for nearly two months with inflammation and soreness in his left knee.

Wes Obermueller, atl

The Milwaukee Brewers have recalled Obermueller from Triple-A Nashville to fill the void in their starting rotation during ace Ben Sheets' absence. The righthander, who is 1-2 with a 4.62 ERA in 18 appearances with the Brewers this season, including six starts, is scheduled to take the mound against the San Diego Padres on Saturday.

Kyle Davies, atl

Davies has been recalled from Triple-A Richmond by the Atlanta Braves. The righthander has had a couple of stints with the major league club this season, going 6-3 with a 4.56 ERA in 13 starts and a relief appearance.

8/31/2005

Matt Diaz, atl

With David DeJesus, Matt Stairs and Mike Sweeney suffering injuries that have kept them on the sidelines in recent days, the Kansas City Royals recalled Diaz from Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday. In an earlier stint with the Royals this season, the 27-year-old outfielder was 16-for-64 (.250) with four doubles, two triples and six RBI. Diaz was batting .371 and slugging .649 in 65 games for Omaha.

8/29/2005

Willy Aybar, atl

On Sunday, the Los Angeles Dodgers placed starting shortstop Cesar Izturis on the 15-day disabled list and recalled Aybar from Triple-A Las Vegas. The 22-year-old second baseman, who was moved from third base before the season, was batting .297 with a .356 on-base percentage and 60 RBI in 108 games for Las Vegas.

8/28/2005

Mike Remlinger, atl

The Red Sox have designated lefthander Mike Remlinger for assignment on Sunday, just 19 days after obtaining him from the Cubs. Remlinger had a 14.85 era in eight appearances for the team. Lefthanded pitcher Abe Alvarez was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket to take Remlinger's place.

8/26/2005

Mike Hampton, atl

An MRI on Hampton's ailing lower back has revealed a herniated disc, and the Braves do not have a timetable for his return to the starting rotation. The lefthander will be completely shut down for the next several days after receiving an injection to help ease the discomfort. Hampton has been limited to just 12 starts this season by the back injury, as well as a strained forearm.

8/24/2005

Mike Hampton, atl

Due to lingering discomfort in his lower back, Hampton has been placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Atlanta Braves, retroactive to August 20. The lefthander has been limited to just 12 starts this season by the back injury, as well as a strained forearm. Jorge Sosa will take his spot in the starting rotation.

8/23/2005

Chipper Jones, atl

Jones had his first multihomer game of the year as he hit two against the Cubs on Monday. He accounted for all of the Braves' runs with his four RBIs in Atlanta's 4-2 win.

Tim Hudson, atl

Hudson was fantastic against the Cubs on Monday, throwing his first complete game of the year and 17th of his major league career. The righthander surrendered just two earned runs, seven hits and a walk while striking out five in the Braves' 4-2 win.

Brayan Pena, atl

The Atlanta Braves have optioned Pena back to Triple-A Richmond, opening a spot on the roster for fellow catcher Johnny Estrada, who was activated from the 15-day disabled list on Monday. Pena has appeared in just 13 games with the Braves this season, going 4-for-30 with an RBI and six strikeouts.

8/20/2005

Joey Devine, atl

Called up from Double-A Mississippi earlier in the day, Devine had a rough major league debut Saturday, giving up the game-winning grand slam to Xavier Nady in the 13th inning of the Atlanta Braves loss to the San Diego Padres.

8/17/2005

Chris Reitsma, atl

Reitsma's recent struggles continued in Tuesday's loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, as he allowed three runs on three hits and a pair of walks without recording an out. The Braves' closer has blown three saves in his last four appearances, giving up seven runs on nine hits in 2.1 innings. His season ERA has jumped from 3.04 to 4.04 over that span.

Horacio Ramirez, atl

Ramirez was bumped to the bullpen when John Thomson and Mike Hampton returned from the disabled list last weekend, but the Braves have changed their mind and will move him back into the starting rotation. The lefthander, who is 10-7 with a 4.73 ERA and one complete game in 24 appearances (23 starts) this season, is scheduled to take the mound against the San Diego Padres on Saturday.

8/16/2005

Wayne Franklin, atl

To make room for Jaret Wright's return to the New York rotation Monday, the Yankees optioned Franklin to Triple-A Columbus. In nine relief appearances for New York, the veteran righthander was 0-1 with a 5.63 ERA.

8/15/2005

Mike Hampton, atl

The Atlanta Braves activated Hampton from the disabled list on Sunday, and the Braves' lefthander worked five innings to claim the win in a 13-8 victory over Arizona. In his first start in nearly a month because of a lower back ailment, Hampton allowed nine hits and three runs over his five frames. For the season, he is 5-2 with a 2.73 ERA in 11 starts.

Macay McBride, atl

On Sunday, the Atlanta Braves activated lefthander Mike Hampton from the disabled list and optioned McBride to Triple-A Richmond. The 22-year-old lefthander worked seven scoreless outings and had a save in nine relief appearances, but getting roughed up once produced a 6.00 ERA in six innings.

8/14/2005

Chipper Jones, atl

Jones knocked out three hits, including the go-ahead RBI double in the seventh inning of a 9-5 Braves' win over the Arizona Diamondbacks Saturday.

8/13/2005

John Thomson, atl

On Saturday the Braves activated Thomson from the 60-day disabled list. The righthander had been out since May, when he strained a flexor tendon in a finger on his right hand. Prior to going down, the veteran had been 3-2 with a 3.42 ERA in eight games.

Kyle Davies, atl

On Saturday the Braves sent rookie starting pitcher Kyle Davies back down to the minors. Davies had been up with the big club for his second stint of the year, but to make room for John Thomson, Davies was optioned to Triple-A Richmond. He is the first player the team would promote should another pitching injury occur, but for now, he will pitch in the team's farm system.

8/12/2005

Brian Jordan, atl

Jordan is nearing a return to the Atlanta Braves' lineup after missing more than a month with swelling and soreness in his troublesome left knee. The veteran outfielder began a minor league rehab assignment with Class-A Rome on Thursday, going 1-for-3 with a home run. Jordan, who is batting .244 with three home runs, 23 RBI and two stolen bases in 63 games this season, will be evaluated on a daily basis to determine his status and availability.

Mike Hampton, atl

Hampton is scheduled to be activated from the 15-day disabled list by the Atlanta Braves in time to take the mound against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday. The lefthander has missed more than three weeks, due to a strained lower back.

Chipper Jones, atl

Seeing his first action since August 2, Jones struck out as a pinch-hitter late in Thursday's loss to the San Francisco Giants. The Braves' third baseman continues to be hampered by a strained rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder. He remains day-to-day.

Marcus Giles, atl

Giles went 3-for-5 and finished a home run shy of hitting for the cycle in Thursday's loss to the San Francisco Giants, continuing his recent offensive tear. The Braves' second baseman currently boasts a career-best 15-game hitting streak. Over that span, he is 28-for-63 (.444) with six doubles, one homer, 13 RBI, 14 runs scored and a stolen base.

Horacio Ramirez, atl

With Mike Hampton and John Thomson returning to the Braves' active roster this weekend, Ramirez is expected to move to the bullpen for the time being. The Braves need a fifth starter only twice the rest of the month, and Ramirez will get the call in those contests, but in between, he'll pitch in long relief.

Brayan Pena, atl

Pena has been recalled from Triple-A Richmond by the Atlanta Braves, filling the roster spot of the injured Johnny Estrada. In nine games with Atlanta earlier this season, Pena went 3-for-23 with an RBI and five strikeouts. He was hitting better than .300 with the minor league club.

8/11/2005

Andruw Jones, atl

Jones now has seven multihomer games this season, going deep twice in Wednesday's extra-inning win over the San Francisco Giants. The Braves' outfielder had a two-run homer in the sixth and a solo shot in the eighth, improving his season total to a league-leading 37.

8/10/2005

John Thomson, atl

Thomson allowed one run on four hits over six innings in a minor league start with Double-A Mississippi on Monday, and barring any last-minute setbacks, he will be activated from the disabled list in time to take the mound against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday. The Braves' righthander has been sidelined for nearly three months with a partial tear of the supporting structures surrounding the flexor tendon in the middle finger of his pitching hand.

Marcus Giles, atl

Giles' eighth-inning single in Tuesday's win over the San Francisco Giants was enough to extend his current hitting streak to a career-high 13 games. Over that span, the Braves' second baseman is batting .453 with five doubles, one home run, 11 RBI and a stolen base. He's also scored 12 runs.

Jeff Francoeur, atl

Francoeur went a perfect 4-for-4 -- a career high for hits in a game -- with an RBI and run scored in Tuesday's 7-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants. Since making his major league debut last month, the Braves' outfielder has hit safely in 19 of the 21 games in which he has recorded an at-bat, including 10 straight.

8/9/2005

Mike Remlinger, atl

The Chicago Cubs have traded Remlinger and cash to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for 21-year-old righthander Olivio Astacio. Remlinger, a 39-year-old lefthander, was designated for assignment by the Cubs last week after going 0-3 with a 4.91 ERA in 35 relief appearances this season. He missed a couple of weeks with a broken finger on his pitching hand.

8/8/2005

Jeff Francoeur, atl

Francoeur went 2-for-4 with a home run and double in Sunday's loss to the St. Louis Cardinals to extend his current hitting streak to nine games. Over that span, the Braves' outfielder is batting .410 with three homers and nine RBI.

8/7/2005

Mike Remlinger, atl

Before the Chicago Cubs took on the New York Mets on Friday, the club designated Remlinger for assignment. The veteran lefthander has battled a host of injuries since joining the Cubs in 2003, and he has struggled to be effective throughout his tenure with the team. He was 0-3 with a 4.91 ERA in 35 appearances this season.

Chipper Jones, atl

Jones hasn't played since straining his right rotator cuff against Cincinnati on Tuesday, and he still is having trouble throwing across the diamond. The Atlanta Braves don't expect their third baseman to return to action until at least the middle of the upcoming week.

Andruw Jones, atl

Jones took over the major league home-run lead with two dingers in Atlanta's 8-1 win over St. Louis Saturday. The Braves' center fielder hit a solo shot and a sixth-inning grand slam to give him 35 home runs on the season. It was his sixth multihomer game of 2005.

8/6/2005

Tim Hudson, atl

Hudson picked up career win No. 100 on Saturday, beating the St. Louis Cardinals, 8-1.

8/5/2005

Mike Hampton, atl

On a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Richmond, Hampton pitched four strong innings in a start on Thursday. The Braves' lefthander, who has been out with a strained lower back, allowed one run on four hits, striking out three and walking one.

Chipper Jones, atl

After straining his rotator cuff diving to his left in an effort to stop Ryan Freel's sharp grounder late in Tuesday's game against the Cincinnati Reds, Jones has missed the Braves' last two contests. However, the third baseman hopes to return to the starting lineup at some point this weekend, barring any setbacks. Injuries have limited Chipper to just 62 games this season. In those contests, he has batted .286 with nine home runs and 35 RBI.

8/4/2005

Edgar Renteria, atl

In pursuit of a flyball, Renteria and teammate Manny Ramirez collided in left field during the second inning of Boston's 8-5 win over Kansas City on Wednesday. Renteria, who came out of the game in the bottom of the seventh, said his ribs and stomach were sore. He said he was not certain to play in Thursday's finale against the Royals, but the Red Sox' shortstop, who tends to play at least 150 games every season, was back in the lineup for the afternoon contest.

8/3/2005

Chipper Jones, atl

Jones, who missed six weeks in June and July with a foot injury, left Atlanta's 12-2 romp over Cincinnati on Tuesday with a rotator cuff strain. The Braves' third baseman was injured diving to his left in an effort to stop Ryan Freel's sharp grounder late in the game.

Marcus Giles, atl

Giles rapped out three singles in the Braves' 12-2 rout of the Cincinnati Reds Tuesday, his fifth multi-hit game in the last six games. He's hitting .560 (14-for-25) over that stretch, with six runs and six RBI.

8/2/2005

Mike Hampton, atl

Rehabbing a bad back, Hampton will make his first rehab start Thursday for Triple-A Richmond. The Braves' lefthander, who reportedly suffered the injury while getting out of a hot tub, is expected to throw roughly 60 pitches on Thursday. The Braves are hoping Hampton will be ready to return to Atlanta after two rehab starts.

7/30/2005

Wayne Franklin, atl

With Kevin Brown again going on the disabled list, the Yankees recalled Franklin from Triple-A Columbus. Franklin, who was just sent down to Columbus last week, is 0-1 with a 12.27 ERA in five relief appearances for New York in 2005.

Michael Ryan, atl

After Friday night's costly loss to the Boston Red Sox, the Minnesota Twins put center fielder Torii Hunter on the 15-day disabled list with a serious ankle injury and recalled Ryan to fill his roster spot. Ryan had been optioned out last weekend to make room for a starting pitcher. In 26 games with the Twins this season, Ryan is batting .268 with six RBI.

7/29/2005

Jay Powell, atl

Two weeks after his return to the majors following Tommy John surgery last July, Powell suffered a serious elbow injury during Atlanta's win over Pittsburgh on Friday. The 33-year-old righthander sailed his second pitch of the night about 15 feet high and wide of the plate. He fell to the ground, holding his right elbow and writhing in pain. X-rays showed a severe elbow injury, Braves officials said.

Kyle Davies, atl

Davies, who arrived from the minors and pitched surprisingly well when the Atlanta rotation was struck by the injury bug during the first half, will return to the Braves and face Pittsburgh on Saturday. The 21-year-old righthander, who has spent the last two weeks at Triple-A Richmond, is 4-3 with a 4.32 ERA in 11 starts for Atlanta this season. He is 3-2 with a 4.07 mark in 10 starts for Richmond.

Brayan Pena, atl

Pena, who was recalled two days ago with starting catcher Johnny Estrada serving a two-game suspension, was returned to Triple-A Richmond after Atlanta's win over Pittsburgh on Friday. The move was made to make room on the Braves' roster for Saturday's starter, Kyle Davies. Pena can return to regular duty for Richmond, where he is batting .336 with a .387 on-base percentage in 65 games this season.

7/28/2005

Brayan Pena, atl

With Johnny Estrada serving a two-game suspension this week, Pena has been recalled from Triple-A Richmond by the Atlanta Braves to serve as a backup to rookie Brian McCann behind the plate. The catcher, who takes the roster spot of injured pitcher Mike Hampton, appeared in nine games with the Braves earlier this season, going 3-for-23 with an RBI and five strikeouts.

Jeff Francoeur, atl

In Thursday's win over the Washington Nationals, Francoeur hit solo shots in the fourth and sixth innings, notching the first multihomer game of his major league career. Since making his major league debut on July 8, the Braves' rookie outfielder is 15-for-34 (.441) with five home runs and 12 RBI.

7/26/2005

Mike Hampton, atl

Hampton will be placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday, due to a strained lower back. The move will be made retroactive to July 18, meaning the lefthander will be eligible to return as early as next week. According to manager Bobby Cox, the team will name a replacement within the next couple of days.

John Thomson, atl

Thomson continues to recover from a partial tear of the supporting structures surrounding the flexor tendon in the middle finger of his pitching hand, and barring any setbacks, he should be back in the Braves' starting rotation within the next couple of weeks. The righthander reported no major problems after tossing two scoreless innings for Atlanta's Rookie League affiliate on Monday.

7/25/2005

Andruw Jones, atl

Jones was the only run producer for the Atlanta Braves in Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, belting a pair of solo home runs and notching two of the team's four hits for the entire contest. The outfielder now has 26 multihomer games in his major league career.

7/23/2005

Michael Ryan, atl

The Minnesota Twins optioned Ryan to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday and recalled pitcher Scott Baker. Baker is scheduled to start the second game of Saturday's day-night doubleheader against the Tigers. Ryan is hitting .268 in 26 games with the Twins this season.

7/22/2005

Macay McBride, atl

The Atlanta Braves have recalled McBride from Triple-A Richmond, filling the roster spot of veteran righthander Kevin Gryboski, who was traded to the Texas Rangers late on Thursday. McBride, a 22-year-old lefthander, posted a 4.17 ERA in 22 appearances with Richmond since being promoted on May 11.

7/21/2005

John Smoltz, atl

Smoltz turned in yet another solid performance in Wednesday's 4-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants, allowing just one run on six hits in eight strong innings of work. The veteran righthander, who struck out seven batters and walked none in the game, has won eight of his last nine decisions, including seven straight. He continues to receive treatment for a sore hamstring between outings, but the minor ailment has not yet bothered him in a game situation.

Mike Hampton, atl

Hampton is still scheduled to take the mound against the Diamondbacks on Saturday, but he might be a late scratch after injuring his back while getting out of a hot tub on Tuesday. The injury is not considered serious, and he will be evaluated over the next couple of days to determine his availability for this weekend's start. Hampton is 4-2 in 10 starts this season with a 2.51 ERA.

7/20/2005

Chipper Jones, atl

Jones was pulled from the Braves' lineup as a precautionary measure after experiencing some discomfort in his troublesome left foot in the seventh inning of Tuesday's meeting with the San Francisco Giants. The third baseman, who was activated from the 15-day disabled list on Monday following a six-week absence with a deep bone bruise and partially torn ligament the foot, was replaced at the hot corner by Wilson Betemit.

Wayne Franklin, atl

Franklin, who was recalled when the Yankees cut loose Paul Quantrill and Mike Stanton at the end of June, wasn't the answer. The 31-year-old southpaw was optioned to Triple-A Columbus Wednesday after going 0-1 with a 12.27 ERA in five appearances for New York. To replace Franklin, the Yankees recalled southpaw Alex Graman from Columbus.

Wes Obermueller, atl

Obermueller has been optioned to Triple-A Nashville by the Milwaukee Brewers after surrendering five runs -- four earned -- on seven hits over three innings in Tuesday's 11-4 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. The righthander will be replaced on the roster by Justin Lehr.

7/19/2005

Andruw Jones, atl

Jones found the left-field seats twice in Monday's meeting with the San Francisco Giants, notching the 25th multihomer game of his major league career. The Braves' outfielder belted a pair of two-run shots off starter Kevin Correia in the first and third innings to increase his homer total for the season to 29, matching what he had all of last year.

7/18/2005

Mike Hampton, atl

Making his first start in more than six weeks, Hampton struggled in Sunday's loss to the New York Mets, allowing five runs on seven hits -- including a two-run homer by Mike Cameron -- in just two innings of work. The Braves' lefthander had been sidelined with a strained left forearm, but was activated from the disabled list just prior to Sunday's contest.

Chipper Jones, atl

As anticipated, Jones has been activated from the 15-day disabled list by the Atlanta Braves, and he will be in the starting lineup for Monday night's meeting with the San Francisco Giants. The third baseman has been sidelined since June 5 with a deep bone bruise and partially torn ligament in his left foot.

7/17/2005

Mike Hampton, atl

As anticipated, Hampton has been activated from the 15-day disabled list by the Atlanta Braves, and he will take the mound against the New York Mets on Sunday. The veteran lefthander, who takes the roster spot of demoted rookie Kyle Davies, has missed nearly two months with a strained forearm.

Kyle Davies, atl

Opening a spot on the roster for veteran lefthander Mike Hampton, who was activated from the 15-day disabled list on Sunday, the Atlanta Braves have optioned Davies to Triple-A Richmond. The rookie righthander has made 11 starts with the Braves this season, going 4-3 with a 4.32 ERA.

7/16/2005

Mike Hampton, atl

Hampton is expected to be activated from the disabled list in time to start Sunday's game against the Neqw York Mets. The pitcher, who has been sidelined since early June, is 4-1 with a 1.83 ERA this season

Chipper Jones, atl

Chipper Jones hopes to be back in the Atlanta Braves starting lineup Monday when the club begins a series against the San Francisco Giants. Jones has missed 43 games this season -- 35 of those since going on the DL June 6 with an injured ligament in his left foot.

Tim Hudson, atl

Hudson has been activated from the disabled list and will be the starting pitcher for Saturday's game against the New York Mets. The Braves pitcher has been sidelined since June 14 with a strained left oblique muscle. Hudson is 6-5 with a 3.78 ERA in his frist season with Atlanta. To clear room on the roster, the Braves have sent Andy Marte down to Triple-A Richmond.

Tim Hudson, atl

In his first start since coming off the disabled list, Hudson threw six scoreless innings on Saturday against the New York Mets. The Braves pitcher had been sidelined since June 14 with a strained left oblique muscle. Hudson is 6-5 with a 3.78 ERA in his first season with Atlanta. To clear room on the roster for Hudson, the Braves sent Andy Marte down to Triple-A Richmond.

7/15/2005

Mike Hampton, atl

Hampton did some throwing on Thursday, and he'll work again on the side Friday. If all goes well, Hampton should return from forearm tightness on Sunday. He is tentatively scheduled to face Pedro Martinez and the Mets at Shea Stadium in Sunday's series finale. In nine 2005 starts, Hampton is 4-1 with a 1.83 ERA and one shutout.

Chipper Jones, atl

As anticipated, Jones began a minor league rehab assignment with Class-A Rome on Wednesday. The Braves' third baseman, who has been sidelined since June 5 with a deep bone bruise and partially torn ligament in his left foot, served as the club's designated hitter on Thursday, but plans to get some action at the hot corner over the weekend. Barring any setbacks, he should be back with the major league club next week.

Jay Powell, atl

The Atlanta Braves purchased Powell's contract from Double-A Mississippi on Friday, roughly a year after the veteran righthander underwent Tommy John surgery. After pitching well for Mississippi, the 33-year-old reliever will work out of the Atlanta bullpen.

Tim Hudson, atl

Hudson did some throwing on Thursday, his 30th birthday, and the Braves' righthander is expected to start against the Mets at Shea Stadium on Saturday. Recovering from a strained left oblique muscle, Hudson is 6-5 with a 3.78 ERA in 14 starts this season.

Marcus Giles, atl

Giles was in Bobby Cox' original lineup for Thursday's meeting with the New York Mets, but was a late scratch, due to flu-like symptoms. The second baseman, who was replaced by Pete Orr, hopes to return to action on Friday. He is listed as day-to-day.

Chris Reitsma, atl

Reitsma still has some soreness in his bruised ribs, but he's shown significant improvement over the past couple of days. Barring any setbacks, the Braves' closer, who was hit by a liner last Sunday, should be available for duty this weekend. He continues to be listed as day-to-day.

7/11/2005

Chris Reitsma, atl

Reitsma was forced to leave Sunday's loss to the Milwaukee Brewers after taking a J.J. Hardy liner to the side. Precautionary X-rays were negative, and the Braves' closer has been listed as day-to-day with bruised ribs.

7/9/2005

Chipper Jones, atl

Jones is scheduled to begin a rehabilitation stint with Class-A Rome next Wednesday. The Braves' third baseman was placed on the disabled list June 6 with a partially torn ligament in his foot.

7/8/2005

Jeff Francoeur, atl

Francoeur was expected to make his major league debut on Friday, but Braves manager Bobby Cox decided to throw him into the lineup for the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs. The 21-year-old outfielder took advantage of the opportunity, belting a three-run homer in the sixth inning for the first hit of his career.

7/7/2005

Brian Jordan, atl

The swelling and soreness in Jordan's troublesome left knee have worsened recently, prompting the Atlanta Braves to place the veteran outfielder on the 15-day disabled list. Jordan, who is batting .244 with three home runs, 23 RBI and two stolen bases in 63 games this season, will be replaced on the roster by rookie Jeff Francouer.

Brian Jordan, atl

The swelling and soreness in Jordan's troublesome left knee have worsened recently, prompting the Atlanta Braves to place the veteran outfielder on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 4. Jordan, who is batting .244 with three home runs, 23 RBI and two stolen bases in 63 games this season, will be replaced on the roster by rookie Jeff Francouer.

Mike Hampton, atl

If Hampton continues to show improvement, he should be activated from the 15-day disabled list within the next two weeks. The lefthander, who has been sidelined since late May with tightness in his forearm, reported no problems after pitching a simulated game on Wednesday. In nine starts this season, Hampton is 4-1 with a 1.83 ERA and one complete game shutout.

Tim Hudson, atl

Hudson reported being pain-free after throwing a simulated game on Wednesday. The Braves' righthander, who has been sidelined since June 13 with a strained left oblique, will either make a minor league rehab start or pitch another simulated game this weekend, according to manager Bobby Cox. Prior to the injury, Hudson was 6-5 with a 3.78 ERA in 14 starts.

Horacio Ramirez, atl

Ramirez pitched a gem in the first game of Thursday's doubleheader against the struggling Chicago Cubs, notching the first shutout and third complete game of his major league career. The Braves' lefthander allowed just three hits over his nine innings of work, striking out four and walking one. He needed just 100 pitches to finish the job, 69 of which were strikes.

Jeff Francoeur, atl

The Atlanta Braves have recalled Francouer from Double-A Mississippi, replacing injured veteran Brian Jordan on the roster. The 21-year-old outfielder, considered to be one of the organization's top prospects, was batting .275 with 13 home runs, 62 RBI and 13 stolen bases with the minor league club this season.

7/5/2005

Andruw Jones, atl

On Tuesday, Jones was named the National League Player of the Month for the month of June. Jones broke the Braves' franchise record for home runs in a month, held by Eddie Matthews, when he hit 13 home runs in the month of June. The star centerfielder also hit .317 with 18 runs scored and 26 RBI, all while leading the league with a .733 slugging percentage for the month.

Adam LaRoche, atl

LaRoche notched the second multihomer game of his major league career, going deep twice in Monday's 4-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs. The Braves' first baseman also extended his current hitting streak to four games. Over that span, he is 7-for-15 (.467) with a double, three home runs and six RBI.

7/1/2005

Chipper Jones, atl

Jones temporarily took the protective boot off his ailing foot on Thursday and was allowed to take a few swings off a tee. The Braves' third baseman, who has been sidelined since early June with a partial ligament tear and a severe bone bruise in the foot, is scheduled to be re-evaluated in a week to determine the next step in his rehab program.

6/30/2005

John Thomson, atl

Thomson has been sidelined for nearly six weeks with a partial tear of the supporting structures surrounding the flexor tendon in the middle finger of his pitching hand. However, the righthander resumed throwing recently and reported no major problems. If he stays on schedule in his recovery, Thomson hopes to rejoin the Atlanta Braves' rotation by late July.

Tim Hudson, atl

Reportedly, the Atlanta Braves are planning to be extremely cautious with Hudson and likely will hold him out until after the All-Star break. The righthander, who already has missed more than two weeks with a strained muscle in his left side, could toss a simulated game as early as next week, barring any setbacks.

Wayne Franklin, atl

The New York Yankees recalled Franklin from Triple-A Columbus Thursday after designating relievers Mike Stanton and Paul Quantrill for assignment. In the Columbus bullpen, Franklin was 2-2 with a save and a 4.13 ERA in 38 relief appearances. The lefthander had fanned 39 in 32.2 Triple-A innings.

Chris Reitsma, atl

Reitsma could be in danger of losing his job as the Braves' closer after blowing his second save in as many chances in Wednesday's extra-inning loss to the Florida Marlins. In his last two outings, the righthander has surrendered five runs on nine hits and a walk in just 1.2 innings of work. Over that span, his ERA has jumped from 2.88 to 4.00.

6/28/2005

Horacio Ramirez, atl

Ramirez was a bit questionable going into Monday's matchup with the Florida Marlins after suffering a slight groin strain in his previous outing. However, the Braves' lefthander did not appear to be limited by the minor ailment, allowing just one run on five hits over seven innings of work. He struck out two and walked three. In his last 12 innings, Ramirez has surrendered only one run.

6/27/2005

John Smoltz, atl

Smoltz went the distance in Sunday's 8-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles, notching the 50th complete game of his major league career, third of the 2005 campaign and second straight. The Braves' veteran righthander, who allowed just one run on five hits, has won his last four starts. He struck out seven and walked none.

Andruw Jones, atl

Jones homered in all three contests against the Baltimore Orioles this weekend, and Atlanta's center fielder has powered eight home runs in his last nine games. In that nine-game stretch, Jones is a .469 hitter (15-for-32) with nine runs scored and 15 RBI.

6/26/2005

Andruw Jones, atl

Jones delivered a leadoff home run in the bottom of the ninth to direct Atlanta to a 5-4 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday. The Braves' center fielder went 3-for-5 with two ribbies in the game.

6/23/2005

Mike Hampton, atl

Earlier this month, Dr. James Andrews prescribed two weeks of rest for Hampton's forearm discomfort, but the time has passed, and the lefthander is still battling pain in the arm. Hampton, who has been on the disabled list since the beginning of the month, has yet to resume throwing, and the Braves do not know when he will be able to return to the mound.

Andruw Jones, atl

Jones stayed hot at the plate in Wednesday's win over the Florida Marlins, going 2-for-3, including a 432-foot, two-run shot to left field in bottom of the fifth inning. The Braves' outfielder, who also added a sacrifice fly to finish the game with three RBI, has went deep nine times in his last 11 games and currently leads the National League with 21 home runs on the season.

Horacio Ramirez, atl

Ramirez strained his groin while running out a double in the fifth inning of Wednesday's meeting with Florida Marlins, forcing him to leave the game. The Braves' lefthander will be re-evaluated over the next couple of days, but he is confident that he'll be ready for his next turn in the starting rotation. Prior to his departure, Ramirez allowed just three hits over five shutout innings, which was enough to pick up the win -- his third in his last three decisions.

Kelly Johnson, atl

Johnson continues to produce for the Atlanta Braves. The outfielder, who was recalled from the minor leagues late last month and made his major league debut, went 3-for-4 with two runs scored in Wednesday's win over the Florida Marlins to extend his hitting streak to a career-high eight games. Over that span, the rookie is 14-for-31 with a double, three home runs, 12 RBI and eight walks.

6/22/2005

John Smoltz, atl

Smoltz notched the 15 shutout of his major league career and first since the 1999 campaign, going the distance in Tuesday's 5-0 victory over the Florida Marlins. The veteran righthander, who spent the last four seasons as the Braves' closer, allowed just five hits over nine innings, striking out six and walking two. He has won his last three starts, posting two complete games over that span.

6/21/2005

Edgar Renteria, atl

Renteria has been playing with a sore left wrist for most of a week. The Boston shortstop injured the wrist on a swing, and it has been taped up after games. So far, Renteria has continued to play through the injury.

6/20/2005

Bob Wickman, atl

Wickman's return from elbow surgery has gone remarkably well this spring. The Cleveland closer posted his 20th save of the season on Sunday to take over as the American League saves leader. The 36-year-old righthander is 0-1 with a 2.67 ERA in 28 appearances. His strikeouts are down markedly, but Wickman hasn't been about blowing people away with heat for a number of years.

Andruw Jones, atl

Jones stroked two home runs on Friday and added another on Saturday in Atlanta victories over the Cincinnati Reds. His three home runs against the Reds put him one up on the Reds' Adam Dunn and the Cubs' Derrek Lee in the National League home-run race. Jones has 19, with Dunn and Lee at 18. Jones enjoyed a terrific series against Cincinnati, going 6-for-12 with four runs scored and four RBI.

6/16/2005

Tim Hudson, atl

On Thursday, Hudson became the third Atlanta starter to land on the disabled list. The Braves' righthander has a strained muscle in his left side. He lasted only 2.2 innings Monday, giving up five runs in a 7-3 loss to Texas. For the season, Hudson is 6-5 with a 3.78 ERA in 14 starts.

6/13/2005

Seth Greisinger, atl

After being designated for assignment last week, Greisinger has been outrighted to Triple-A Richmond by the Atlanta Braves. The righthander came up to make a start on May 5, and he allowed seven hits and two runs over five innings in a no-decision against Pittsburgh. He is 3-4 with a 3.04 ERA in 12 starts for Richmond.

6/12/2005

Matt Diaz, atl

The Royals placed Diaz on the 15-day disabled list on Saturday with a strained oblique muscle. The left fielder has played in 22 games for Kansas City this season, hitting .250 with no homers and six RBI.

6/10/2005

Raul Mondesi, atl

Designated for assignment by the Atlanta Braves on May 31, Mondesi was officially released on Friday. He is free to pursue big league employment elsewhere.

Wes Obermueller, atl

Obermueller may be the odd man out in the Milwaukee rotation when Tomo Ohka arrives from Washington. The 28-year-old Obermueller looked like he might be turning a corner in mid-May. He took a perfect game into the seventh inning at Washington on May 17, en route to eight innings of two-hit ball, then allowed just three hits and one run over six frames at Minnesota on May 22. But he's been roughed up early in two subsequent starts and a relief appearance.

6/9/2005

Mike Hampton, atl

The forearm tightness that has landed Hampton on the disabled list for a second time this season will keep the Atlanta lefthander on the shelf for at least two more weeks. After an examination on Wednesday by Dr. James Andrews, the surgeon prescribed two weeks of rest for Hampton's forearm discomfort. It's unlikely Hampton will pitch in a game before the All-Star break.

Chipper Jones, atl

Jones wore a walking boot Wednesday, which he would wear for roughly a month if he avoids the surgery option. While going under the knife probably would push his layoff to two months, the Braves' third baseman seemed to be favoring surgery as a permanent solution to the problem. "I would much rather bite the bullet and get it done so I can be the player we all want me to be," Jones said on Wednesday.

Chipper Jones, atl

Jones wore a walking boot on his ailing left foot Wednesday, which he would wear for roughly a month if he avoids the surgery option. While going under the knife probably would push his layoff to two months, the Braves' third baseman seemed to be favoring surgery as a permanent solution to the problem. "I would much rather bite the bullet and get it done so I can be the player we all want me to be," Jones said on Wednesday.

Chipper Jones, atl

After Jones was examined by Dr. Robert Anderson in Charlotte Thursday, the doctor strongly recommended against surgery, but said the Atlanta third baseman should wear a protective walking boot on his left foot for 4-6 weeks. The healing process will be evaluated late in that time frame, and when Jones may return could be determined at that time.

Brian McCann, atl

The Atlanta Braves recalled McCann from Double-A Mississippi Wednesday, after Braves starting catcher Johnny Estrada suffered a concussion and whiplash and Eddie Perez returned to the disabled list with a shoulder injury. McCann is one of Atlanta's top prospects and was hitting .265 with six homers and 26 RBI in 48 games for Mississippi.

6/8/2005

Chipper Jones, atl

An MRI on Jones' ailing left foot has revealed a partial ligament tear and a severe bone bruise. The Braves' third baseman, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list earlier this week, will be evaluated by a specialist on Wednesday to determine the best course of action. If Jones is told to immobilize and rest the foot, he would be sidelined for 3-4 weeks. If surgery is necessary, a two-month absence is expected.

Eddie Perez, atl

Although he might not see any playing time right away since he's still not back to full strength, Perez has been activated from the 15-day disabled list by the Atlanta Braves. The catcher, who missed more than two weeks with tendinitis in his right shoulder, is needed as an emergency backup to Brayan Pena while regular starter Johnny Estrada recovers from a concussion. Prior to his stint on the DL, Perez was batting .216 with two home runs and six RBI in 15 games.

Eddie Perez, atl

Perez is back on the 15-day disabled list for the Atlanta Braves after being active for just one day. With regular starter Johnny Estrada unavailable because of a concussion and whiplash, the catcher was needed as an emergency backup to Brayan Pena in Tuesday's meeting against the Los Angeles Angels, but he did not appear in the contest. The right shoulder tendinitis Perez has been battling most of the season will keep him sidelined for at least another couple of weeks.

Seth Greisinger, atl

Greisinger has been designated for assignment by the Atlanta Braves, opening a spot on the roster for backup catcher Eddie Perez. The righthander, who was promoted over the weekend to fill in for the injured Mike Hampton, allowed two runs on seven hits over five innings of work and did not figure into the decision in Sunday's loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

6/6/2005

Chipper Jones, atl

Jones had to be assisted off the field by Braves manager Bobby Cox and a team trainer after aggravating his ailing left foot while batting in the eighth inning of Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The third baseman, who originally injured the foot on April 24 and was limited for more than a week, will be re-evaluated on Monday to determine his status. He is expected to miss at least one game, and a stint on the 15-day disabled list is a likely possibility.

Chipper Jones, atl

The extent of Jones' left foot injury won't be known until he undergoes an MRI on Tuesday, but the ailment will keep the third baseman sidelined for at least two weeks, so the Braves have decided to place him on the 15-day disabled list. Jones had to be assisted off the field by manager Bobby Cox and a team trainer after aggravating his foot while batting in the eighth inning of Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

6/5/2005

Mike Remlinger, atl

Remlinger has been activated from the 15-day disabled list by the Chicago Cubs. The veteran lefthander has not taken the mound since May 20, due to a non-displaced fracture of the pinkie finger on his pitching hand. In 16 relief appearances this season, Remlinger is 0-1 with a 4.97 ERA.

Chipper Jones, atl

Jones was absent from the Braves' lineup on Saturday, due to a jammed heel, an injury suffered in Thursday's meeting with the Washington Nationals. The third baseman was able to pinch-hit late in the game, but according to manager Bobby Cox, he could use a few days off to rest the foot. Jones currently is listed as day-to-day.

Seth Greisinger, atl

The Atlanta Braves have purchased Greisinger's contract from Triple-A Richmond in time for the righthander to take the mound against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday. Greisinger will fill the rotation and roster spot of veteran Mike Hampton, who landed back on the 15-day disabled list with tightness in his forearm.

Kyle Davies, atl

Davies continued his impressive run in Saturday's matchup with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but did not figure into the decision in the 1-0 victory. The 21-year-old righthander, who was recalled by the Braves late last month, scattered six hits over 7.2 shutout innings, struck out five and walked four.

6/4/2005

Mike Hampton, atl

The Braves placed Hampton back on the disabled list with tightness in his left forearm. The pitcher had just come off the disabled list on May 31 after being sidelined for two weeks with the same ailment. However, he was forced from his start last Tuesday in the fifth inning when his forearm tightened up.

6/1/2005

Mike Hampton, atl

Hampton returned to the mound on Tuesday as scheduled, cruising through the first four innings, allowing five hits and no runs. However, the lefthander, who had missed the previous two weeks with stiffness in his forearm, was forced to leave in the fifth with the same problem. After the game, Hampton indicated that the move was precautionary, and he shouldn't miss his next start.

Michael Ryan, atl

The Minnesota Twins recalled Ryan from Triple-A Rochester Wednesday. The 27-year-old outfielder was batting .301 with six homers and 25 RBI for Rochester.

5/31/2005

Mike Hampton, atl

As anticipated, Hampton has been activated from the 15-day disabled list by the Atlanta Braves, and he is slated to take the mound against the Washington Nationals Tuesday night. The lefthander was sidelined the last two weeks with stiffness in his forearm, but reported no problems after throwing a pair of bullpen sessions over the weekend. He is 4-1 with a 1.96 ERA in eight starts for the Braves this season.

Raul Mondesi, atl

After losing his starting job over the weekend, Mondesi has been designated for assignment by the Atlanta Braves. The veteran outfielder has struggled this season, batting just .211 with four home runs and 17 RBI in 41 games. If Mondesi refuses a minor league assignment as expected, the club will have 10 days to trade or release him.

5/30/2005

Bob Wickman, atl

Wickman was unavailable over the weekend after aggravating his back while pitching on Friday. The Indians' veteran righthander has improved significantly over the past couple of days, and he has declared himself ready to resume his duties as the team's closer. In 19 appearances this season, Wickman is 0-1 with a 3.50 ERA and 13 saves. He's struck out eight and walked eight in 18 innings of work.

Mike Hampton, atl

Hampton reported no major problems after tossing a couple of bullpen sessions over the weekend, and barring any last-minute setbacks, he will be activated from the 15-day disabled list in time to start Tuesday's meeting with the Washington Nationals. The Braves' lefthander has been sidelined the last two weeks with stiffness in his forearm.

Edgar Renteria, atl

Renteria battled a sore right index finger earlier this month and saw his batting average dip to a lowly .239 last week. Since that time, the Red Sox' shortstop has looked quite healthy, going 16-for-24 with two home runs, six RBI, seven runs scored and a stolen base over his last six games.

5/29/2005

Raul Mondesi, atl

Mondesi has lost the starting job as the Braves' right fielder, and the Braves are giving him a few days to decide if he wants to stay on the team as a reserve. In 41 games this year, Mondesi is hitting .211 with four homers and 17 RBI in 142 at-bats.

Kelly Johnson, atl

Johnson was called up from the Braves' Triple-A club in Richmond, and made his major league debut on Sunday in left field. Brian Jordan will shift to right field and split time with Ryan Langerhans, as the Braves look for a way to replace struggling veteran Raul Mondesi.

5/26/2005

Kyle Davies, atl

Davies has been impressive since stepping into the Atlanta Braves' starting rotation in the absence of the injured Mike Hampton and John Thomson. Although he's lasted less than six innings in his two outings, the 21-year-old righthander has yet to allow a run and has notched two wins. In 10.1 innings, Davies has given up nine hits, struck out 12 and walked four.

5/25/2005

Mike Remlinger, atl

Remlinger has been placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Chicago Cubs, retroactive to May 21, due to a broken pinkie finger on his pitching hand. The lefthander, who is 0-1 with a 4.97 ERA in 16 relief appearances this season, will be replaced on the active roster by second baseman Todd Walker. The team currently does not have an exact timetable for Remlinger's return.

Tim Hudson, atl

Hudson scattered six hits over eight shutout innings to record the win in Tuesday's 4-0 victory over the New York Mets. The Braves' righthander, who was pitching on just three days' rest, struck out three and walked two to improve to 5-3 on the season and lower his ERA to 3.05.

Marcus Giles, atl

Giles might be limited slightly over the next several days after tweaking his back on a slide in Sunday's game against the Boston Red Sox. The Braves' second baseman, who was 0-for-4 with a strikeout in Tuesday's meeting with the New York Mets, will receive treatment and be evaluated on a daily basis. He hopes to play through the pain.

5/24/2005

Chipper Jones, atl

Jones was available to pinch-hit on Monday, but was absent from the Braves' starting lineup for the second consecutive day. The third baseman, who aggravated his strained oblique muscle while taking a righthanded swing in Saturday's win over the Boston Red Sox, also won't get the nod on Tuesday, as Atlanta will be facing a lefthanded pitcher. Wilson Betemit will continue to see the majority of time at the hot corner in Jones' stead.

5/23/2005

Chipper Jones, atl

Jones aggravated his strained oblique muscle while taking a righthanded swing in Saturday's win over the Boston Red Sox and was held out of Sunday's contest as a result. The Braves' third baseman, who missed a couple of games last week with the ailment, also is nursing a sore left foot. The team has listed him as day-to-day.

5/22/2005

Mike Hampton, atl

On Saturday, the Atlanta Braves placed Hampton on the 15-day disabled with stiffness in his left forearm. The 32-year-old lefty was forced out of his last start with the ailment, and the stiffness recurred during a bullpen session this week. Hampton is 4-1 with a 1.96 ERA in eight starts for the Braves this season.

Kyle Davies, atl

After Mike Hampton went on the 15-day disabled list with a forearm injury on Saturday, Davies was recalled from Triple-A Richmond to take his Saturday start against the Boston Red Sox. The 21-year-old worked five scoreless innings and earned the win in his major league debut -- a 7-5 Atlanta victory. He allowed four hits and three walks and struck out six Red Sox.

5/20/2005

Chipper Jones, atl

Jones was back in the Braves starting lineup on Friday. Jones had missed the team's previous two consecutive games with a right oblique muscle strain. Expect him to be back at one hundred percent.

Eddie Perez, atl

On Friday, the Braves have placed Perez on the 15-day disabled list with tendinitis in his right shoulder. Perez was serving as a back up catcher to Johnny Estrada, and was hitting .216 with two home runs when he went down.

5/19/2005

Chipper Jones, atl

As expected, the Atlanta Braves kept Jones out of the lineup for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, allowing him to rest the strained muscle in his left side. The third baseman, who was replaced by Wilson Betemit, reported improvement, and he hopes to be available for the team's three-game weekend series against the Boston Red Sox.

John Thomson, atl

After being evaluated by a hand specialist, Thomson has been diagnosed with a parital tear of the supporting structures surrounding the flexor tendon in the middle finger of his pitching hand, according to Braves general manager John Schuerholz. The righthander, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list, is not expected to require surgery, but he will be sidelined for at least two months. The team has yet to determine who will fill the void in the starting rotation.

5/18/2005

Mike Hampton, atl

While warming up for a scheduled bullpen session on Tuesday, Hampton reported tightness in his left forearm, the same minor problem that forced him to leave in the third inning of his last start. The lefthander was slated to take the mound against the Boston Red Sox on Saturday, but now is listed as doubtful for that contest.

Chipper Jones, atl

Jones was a late scratch from the Braves' lineup for Tuesday's matchup with the San Diego Padres, due to a strained muscle in his left side. With an off-day on Thursday, the team likely will choose to hold the third baseman out again on Wednesday as a precautionary measure. Officially, he has been listed as day-to-day.

Wilson Betemit will remain at the hot corner until Jones is back in action. In 35 games this season, Chipper is batting .333 with seven home runs, 22 RBI and one stolen base.

Carlos Almanzar, atl

Tommy John surgery and a procedure to relocate the ulnar nerve have been scheduled for Almanzar on Wednesday. The 31-year-old righthander will become the third Rangers reliever this spring to undergo Tommy John surgery. After working five innings and posting a 14.40 ERA for Texas before being shut down, look for Almanzar's return in 2006.

Wes Obermueller, atl

Obermueller, who has stepped into the Brewers' starting rotation in ace Ben Sheets' absence, took a perfect game into the seventh inning of Tuesday's matchup with the Washington Nationals. The righthander wound up going eight strong innings, allowing just two hits and picking up his first win of the season. He struck out four and walked none.

Obermueller likely will get at least one more start, as Sheets is not quite ready to return to action. In nine appearances this season, including three starts, Obermueller is 1-0 with a 2.63 ERA.

5/17/2005

Brian Jordan, atl

Due to a sore left knee and some recent struggles at the plate, Jordan was given the last couple of days off by the Atlanta Braves. The outfielder, who was replaced in the lineup by Ryan Langerhans, plans to return to action for Tuesday's tussle with the San Diego Padres. This May, Jordan is hitting .222 with no home runs, three RBI and 10 strikeouts in 36 at-bats. For the year, he is batting .235 with two home runs and 17 RBI in 33 contests.

Jordan battled knee problems the past two years and was limited to just 127 games combined. His current ailment is not considered serious, and the time off should have helped. He'll resume his role as the Braves' regular left fielder.

John Thomson, atl

Thomson was forced to exit Monday's game against the San Diego Padres after straining a tendon in the middle finger of his right hand while throwing a pitch in the fifth inning. The Braves' righthander, who will return to Atlanta to be evaluated by a specialist, is expected to miss at least one start, and a trip to the 15-day disabled list has not been ruled out. His status will be updated within the next couple of days.

Thomson was replaced on the mound by Adam Bernero, who could get the starting nod in his absence. For the season, Thomson is 3-2 with a 3.42 ERA and one complete game in eight outings.

John Thomson, atl

With his availability over the next couple of weeks highly in doubt, Thomson has been placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Atlanta Braves. The righthander, who was forced to leave Monday's start against the San Diego Padres after straining a tendon in the middle finger of his right hand while throwing a pitch in the fifth inning, will be re-evaluated by a specialist in Atlanta this week to determine exactly how much time he might miss.

Carlos Almanzar, atl

Dr. Lewis Yocum concurred with Texas team physician Keith Meister that Almanzar should undergo Tommy John surgery and an additional procedure to relocate the ulnar nerve. The knife seems inevitable, but there's no word yet when Almanzar will become the third Rangers reliever this spring to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery.

5/16/2005

Andruw Jones, atl

After going 0-for-4 with a strikeout in an April 26 loss to the New York Mets, Jones saw his season batting average dip to a dismal .182. Since that time, the Braves' outfielder has been crushing the ball, going 25-for-56 (.446) with seven doubles, seven home runs, 15 RBI and 16 runs scored in 15 games. As a result, his overall average has jumped to its current .293.

Jones, who belted a league-high 10 homers in spring training, has three home runs in his last two contests.

Carlos Almanzar, atl

Almanzar decided to hold off on the Tommy John surgery and an ulnar nerve procedure that were scheduled for last Friday, as the Texas Rangers' reliever instead chose to get a second opinion. He will have his ailing right elbow examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum before deciding on a course of action.

Almanzar is hopeful that he can avoid Tommy John surgery, which would sideline him for at least a year. The ulnar nerve procedure alone would end his 2005 campaign, but he would be better prepared to start the 2006 season if he is able to avoid having his elbow rebuilt.

Matt Diaz, atl

The Kansas City Royals recalled Diaz over the weekend, after placing starting pitcher Denny Bautista on the 15-day disabled list with shoulder tendinitis. Diaz was batting .345 with six homers, six doubles and 22 RBI at Triple-A Omaha.

The Royals needed another hitter because first basemen Mike Sweeney and Ken Harvey and outfielder Eli Marrero are banged up.

5/15/2005

Mike Hampton, atl

Braves starting pitcher Mike Hampton left the game Saturday night against the Dodgers with stiffness in his left forearm. Hampton threw only 40 pitches before manager Bobby Cox lifted the lefthander for reliever Adam Bernero. Cox said that the injury was just a spasm-like incident, where Hampton's arm tightened up and he was unable to throw. Hampton should be ready for his next start.

Hampton owners need not worry, as he should be back in five days to pitch. The former All-Star is off to a tremendous start this season, posting a 4-1 record with a 1.96 ERA in eight starts.

5/12/2005

John Thomson, atl

Thomson has been receiving treatment over the past couple of days after experiencing discomfort in his back during his start against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday. The Braves' righthander struggled in the outing, allowing five runs on eight hits and three walks in 4.2 innings. He failed to strike out a batter. For now, he has been listed as day-to-day.

Thomson's injury is not considered serious, and the team is hopeful that he will be ready for his next turn in the rotation. For the season, he is 3-2 with a 3.55 ERA and one complete game in seven starts.

5/11/2005

John Smoltz, atl

Smoltz was able to take the mound as scheduled in Wednesday's game against the Colorado Rockies. The Braves' veteran righthander, who left his previous outing with discomfort in his upper back, did not appear limited by the ailment, going eight solid innings, but failed to figure into the decision. He allowed four runs -- three earned -- on eight hits, striking out four and walking two.

Smoltz' injury lingered for a couple days, but it shouldn't be a major problem going forward. In eight starts this season, he is 3-3 with a 3.10 ERA.

Marcus Giles, atl

Giles turned in his best performance of the 2005 campaign, going 4-for-6 with two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI in Tuesday's win over the Colorado Rockies. Over his last six games, the Braves' second baseman is batting .480 with six doubles, two RBI and 10 runs.

After missing some time earlier this season with foot and knee injuries, Giles is settling in nicely. For the year, he has served as a solid table-setter for the Braves, batting .324 with a home run, five RBI, two stolen bases and 20 runs scored.

Adam LaRoche, atl

LaRoche will not play in Wednesday's meeting with the Colorado Rockies, due to a slightly strained muscle in his left leg, according to Braves manager Bobby Cox. The first baseman, who will be replaced by Julio Franco, should be back in action this weekend. Officially, he is listed as day-to-day.

LaRoche's injury is considered minor, and he should not miss much time. In 30 games this season, he is batting .255 with four home runs and 22 RBI.

5/10/2005

Carlos Almanzar, atl

Almanzar is scheduled for Tommy John surgery this Friday, and the Rangers' reliever may be lost to the team until sometime around midseason 2006. He is the second Texas setup man to undergo the same procedure, as Frank Francisco had surgery at the end of April.

Almanzar made six appearances for Texas this season and posted a 14.40 ERA.

5/9/2005

John Smoltz, atl

Smoltz had some lingering soreness in his upper back over the weekend after straining a muscle in the sixth inning of Friday's start against the Houston Astros. Although the injury is not considered serious at this point, if the veteran righthander does not show improvement over the next day or two, he might be forced to miss his next scheduled start for the Braves. He is listed as day-to-day.

The Braves will be very cautious with Smoltz and likely will hold him out if there is any chance of him aggravating the injury. Adam Bernero or Jorge Sosa could get a spot start in his absence. In seven starts this season, Smoltz is 3-3 with a 3.05 ERA, along with 36 strikeouts and 12 walks in 41.1 innings.

Edgar Renteria, atl

Renteria, who injured his right index finger Thursday when he was hit by a pitch, was not in Boston's lineup for the entire weekend seris against Seattle. The Red Sox' shortstop attempted to throw before the start of Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader with Seattle, but he was scratched from the start when he reported that he still wasn't comfortable with his use of the finger.

It appears Renteria is close to returning. The Red Sox aren't off on Monday, so we'll have to see if he's ready for the start of a series against Oakland at Fenway Park Monday evening.

Edgar Renteria, atl

Renteria, who injured his right index finger Thursday when he was hit by a pitch, was not in Boston's lineup for the entire weekend series against Seattle. The Red Sox' shortstop attempted to throw before Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader with Seattle, but he was scratched from the start when he reported that he still wasn't comfortable with his use of the finger.

It appears Renteria is close to returning. The Red Sox aren't off on Monday, so we'll have to see if he's ready for the start of a series against Oakland at Fenway Park Monday evening.

Ryan Langerhans, atl

Langerhans got the starting nod in right field for the Atlanta Braves on Sunday and took full advantage of the opportunity. The rookie went 3-for-5 with a double, two home runs and a career-high six RBI to lead the team in a 16-0 victory over the Houston Astros. He connected for two-run homers in the second and seventh innings.

Serving primarily as a backup this season, Langerhans currently is hitting .237 with three homers and eight RBI in 19 games (38 at-bats). Barring injury to the Braves' regulars, he will remain in the bench role going forward.

5/8/2005

Mike Hampton, atl

Hampton tossed a two-hit shutout at the Astros on Sunday, the eighth complete-game shutout of his career and first since 2001. The lefthander struck out three Houston hitters and walked just one, needing just 98 pitches to earn his fourth victory of the season for the Braves against just one loss. Hampton also homered in the game, his 15th career longball.

Hampton's 2005 ERA now sits a 2.05, less than half of his 4.28 mark from a season ago.

5/6/2005

Edgar Renteria, atl

Renteria, who injured his right index finger Thursday when he was hit by a pitch, is not in Boston's lineup against Seattle on Friday night. Instead, Ramon Vazquez got the start at shortstop.

Edgar Renteria, atl

Renteria, who injured his right index finger Thursday when he was hit by a pitch, was not in Boston's lineup against Seattle on Friday night. Instead, Ramon Vazquez got the start at shortstop.

Andruw Jones, atl

As a precautionary measure, Jones was held out of the Braves' lineup for Thursday's game against the Florida Marlins, due to some minor soreness in his back. The outfielder, who was replaced by Ryan Langerhans, plans to return to action on Friday. For the season, he is batting .247 with four home runs, 13 RBI and one stolen base.

Jones could have pinch-hit on Thursday if needed, so he should be ready for the weekend, barring any setbacks. After a very slow start to the season, Jones has come alive recently, going 10-for-20 with two doubles, two home runs, four walks and four RBI in his last six games.

John Thomson, atl

Thomson notched his first complete game of the season -- and first since 2003 -- going the distance in Thursday's victory over Houston. Although the Astros were able to post three runs, the Braves' righthander limited them to just three hits, striking out five and walking none. He now has 10 complete games in his major league career.

Thomson has lasted six or more innings in each of his six starts this season. For the year, he is 3-2 with a 2.85 ERA and 1.12 WHIP. He has 29 strikeouts and just eight walks in 41 innings of work.

Adam LaRoche, atl

Despite notching just one hit in five at-bats, LaRoche finished Thursday's victory over the Houston Astros with a career-high four RBI. The Braves' first baseman connected for a three-run homer in the first inning before adding an RBI groundout in the sixth.

LaRoche is 4-for-9 with seven RBI over his last two games. For the season, he is batting .237 with seven doubles, three home runs and 17 RBI in 25 contests. He will continue to get the majority of starts at first base for Atlanta.

5/5/2005

Edgar Renteria, atl

Renteria left Boston's Thursday afternoon game against Detroit with an injured right index finger. The Red Sox' shortstop was hit by a pitch while trying to bunt in the second inning. He was replaced by Ramon Vazquez, who used the at-bat to single home a run off Detroit's Jason Johnson.

5/4/2005

Chipper Jones, atl

According to Braves trainer Jeff Porter, Jones could be suffering from a stretched ligament in his ailing left foot, in addition the original diagnosis of a bruise. However, the third baseman is responding to treatment, and if he continues to improve, he should be back in the lineup within the next couple of days. A trip to the 15-day disabled list is not expected.

Jones has been battling the injury for nearly two weeks now. His only action over that span is four pinch-hitting appearances. Consider him as day-to-day. Wilson Betemit will continue to start at third until Jones is ready for full-time duty.

Chipper Jones, atl

Despite being less than 100 percent, Jones was back in the Atlanta Braves' starting lineup for Wednesday's meeting with the Florida Marlins. The third baseman, who was limited to pinch-hitting duties for nearly two weeks because of a sore left foot, went 1-for-4 with a solo home run, walk and two runs scored in his return.

According to Braves trainer Jeff Porter, Jones could be suffering from a stretched ligament in his ailing foot, in addition the original diagnosis of a bruise. However, the foot has improved over the past few days, and Jones hopes to avoid missing any more time. He is batting .357 with five home runs and 15 RBI in 24 games this season.

Matt Diaz, atl

To make room for the return of rookie third baseman Mark Teahen from the disabled list, the Kansas City Royals have optioned Diaz to Triple-A Omaha. In six games with the Royals, the 27-year-old outfielder was 4-for-20 (.200) with a double and two RBI.

5/2/2005

Carlos Almanzar, atl

On Sunday, the Texas Rangers placed Almanzar on the 15-day disabled list with elbow inflammation. The righthanded reliever had allowed eight runs in five innings since an extended stay on the bereavement list in early April, following the death of his mother and a brother. In his last two appearances, Almanzar allowed home runs to the first batter he faced.

Taking Almanzar's spot in the Texas bullpen is Joaquin Benoit, who had been on the DL all season with right shoulder tendinitis.

5/1/2005

Chipper Jones, atl

Jones continues to battle lingering soreness and swelling in his bruised left foot, and he was absent from the Braves' starting lineup for the sixth consecutive game on Sunday. The third baseman has been able to pinch-hit the last two contests, so he should return to regular duty within the next couple of days.

Wilson Betemit will remain at the hot corner until Jones is back to full-time. In 21 games this season, Chipper is batting .375 with four home runs, 14 RBI and one stolen base.

4/27/2005

Chipper Jones, atl

Jones took some indoor batting practice prior to Wednesday's game against the New York Mets, but did not appear in the contest, due to lingering soreness and swelling in his bruised left foot. The third baseman, who suffered the injury while rounding the bases in the third inning of Sunday's contest, hopes to be available for Friday's matchup with the St. Louis Cardinals. He continues to be listed as day-to-day.

The Braves are off on Thursday, giving Jones some extra time to recover. He will be re-evaluated on Friday to determine his availability. If he is still not ready, Wilson Betemit will remain at third for Atlanta. In 19 games this season, Jones is batting .381 with four home runs, 13 RBI and one stolen base.

Andruw Jones, atl

The Atlanta Braves hope Jones' performance in Wednesday's victory over the New York Mets is a sign he is coming out of his season-long slump. The outfielder, who had just three hits in his previous 47 at-bats, went 3-for-5 with a solo home run, three runs scored and finished just a triple shy of hitting for the cycle.

Jones improved his batting averaged to .207 for the year. In 22 games, he has belted three homers and notched 10 RBI, but has struck out 19 times in 82 at-bats. He had 10 longballs in spring training, but has yet to get into a grove during the regular season.

4/26/2005

Chipper Jones, atl

Jones still had some swelling and soreness in his bruised left foot on Monday, so the Braves held him out of the lineup for their meeting with the New York Mets. The third baseman, who suffered the injury while rounding the bases in the third inning of Sunday's contest, continues to be listed as day-to-day. Wilson Betemit will tend to the hot corner until Jones is able to return, which might not be until the weekend.

All tests on Jones' foot were negative, so as soon as the pain is bearable enough to take the field, he will rejoin the lineup. In 19 games this season, Jones is batting .381 with four home runs, 13 RBI and one stolen base.

Wes Obermueller, atl

Obermueller was slated to make his first start of the 2005 campaign in Monday's matchup with the St. Louis Cardinals, filling in for the ailing Ben Sheets. However, the game was rained out, so his turn will be skipped. The Brewers will need a fifth starter on Saturday, and the righthander is expected to get the nod. In four relief appearances this year, Obermueller has allowed just two runs on 12 hits in eight innings of work.

The Brewers hope to have Sheets back in the rotation during the first week of May, so Obermueller is expected to fill the void until that time. Doug Davis will start on Tuesday, followed by Victor Santos, Chris Capuano and Gary Glover.

4/25/2005

Chipper Jones, atl

It wasn't a good 33rd birthday for Jones, as he was forced to leave in the third inning of Sunday's game against the New York Mets with a bruised left foot. Precautionary X-rays were negative, and the Braves have listed the third baseman as day-to-day. Wilson Betemit tended to the hot corner in Jones' stead.

Jones believes he suffered the injury while rounding the bases just prior to his departure. He'll be re-evaluated on Monday to determine his availability. In 19 games this season, Jones is batting .381 with four home runs, 13 RBI and one stolen base.

John Thomson, atl

After allowing four runs in each of his previous two outings, Thomson turned in the best start of his 2005 campaign in Sunday's victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. The Braves' righthander scattered five hits over seven shutout innings, striking out eight batters and walking two.

In four starts this season, Thomson is 2-2 with a 3.12 ERA. The Braves' offense is beginning to come around after a slow start, so with their support, Thomson should be a solid option as a third-fifth fantasy starter going forward.

Wes Obermueller, atl

Obermueller will step into the Brewers' starting rotation for the time being, filling in for ailing ace Ben Sheets, who is sidelined with an inner-ear infection. His first start of the season will come on Monday against the St. Louis Cardinals. In four relief appearances this year, Obermueller has allowed just two runs on 12 hits in eight innings of work.

33 of Obermueller's 43 career appearances in the major leagues have been starts, so he is not going into unchartered territory. He'll remain in a starting role until Sheets is able to return, which likely won't be until at least late next week.

4/20/2005

Andruw Jones, atl

In an attempt to get Jones out of an 0-for-23 slump and add a spark to the offense overall, Atlanta manager Bobby Cox moved the outfielder from fourth to seventh in the batting order for Tuesday's game against the Houston Astros. The change did not seem to help, as Jones extended his hitless streak to 22 at-bats and struck out three times. The Braves also lost the contest, 5-3.

Jones changed his batting stance and led the league with 10 home runs in spring training, but he has connected for just one so far in the regular season and is hitting a dismal .189. He has struck out 14 times in 14 games this year, including nine times over his last five contests. Jones hates taking days off, so expect him to play through his struggles.

4/19/2005

Tim Hudson, atl

Hudson silenced the Astros' bats in Monday's extra-inning 1-0 victory, but he received no support from the Braves' offense and did not figure into the decision before departing in the 10th. The righthander, who was acquired from Oakland last December, allowed just four hits over nine shutout innings, striking out nine batters and walking one.

Hudson has given up just two runs in his first three starts (22 innings), but has only one win to show for it. The Braves have scored a total of eight runs in those three games.

4/18/2005

Mike Hampton, atl

Hampton allowed just three hits over eight shutout innings, but his performance was matched by Philadelphia's Brett Myers, and he did not figure into the decision in Sunday night's extra-inning loss to the Phillies. The Braves' lefthander has been impressive in three starts this season, going 1-0 with a 0.82 ERA.

After a few disappointing seasons, it's looking more and more like Hampton has regained the form from early in his career. If you're in search of strikeouts, there are better options out there, as he fanned just 87 batters in 172.1 innings all of last season. However, he should post double-digit wins and post a sub-3.75 ERA.

4/15/2005

Carlos Almanzar, atl

Almanzar showed up in the Rangers' clubhouse just prior to Thursday night's tilt against Toronto. He is likely to be activated from the bereavement list before Friday night's second game of the weekend four-game set.

4/14/2005

Carlos Almanzar, atl

Almanzar is expected to return to the Texas Rangers on Thursday. He was on a bereavement leave following the deaths of his mother and brother in the Dominican Republic. Whether he will return in time to be in uniform for the Rangers' Thursday night home game against Toronto is uncertain.

Almanzar has been gone for a little more than a week, so he may not be ready to pitch for a couple of day. The Rangers' bullpen, which has been hit by injuries, could use his services immediately. Someone will have to be dispatched to Triple-A Oklahoma to make room for Almanzar, and that is likely to be Nick Regilio or Ryan Bukvich.

Marcus Giles, atl

Giles was absent from the Braves' lineup again on Wednesday, but came in late as a pinch-hitter. The second baseman, who has been limited to just two starts this season, said his bruised left foot has improved, but he continues to battle soreness in his left knee. Barring any last-minute setbacks, Giles plans to return to the field for the start of this weekend's series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Giles suffered a bone bruise in his knee in a loss to the Marlins on April 5, then fouled a ball off his foot in a win over the Mets three days later. He'll be playing through pain over the next week or two, so his movement on the bases might be limited as a precaution. Giles is 2-for-6 with a double, walk and stolen base in three games this season.

4/13/2005

Marcus Giles, atl

Giles was slated to return to the Braves' lineup for Tuesday's matchup with the Washington Nationals, but again, he was held out to rest his bruised left foot. The second baseman will be a game-time decision for Wednesday's tussle, but with an off-day on Thursday, the team might choose to hold him out until the start of a weekend series against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday. He continues to be listed as day-to-day.

Giles has been working out with the Braves on a daily basis, taking batting practice and fielding grounders. Not wanting the injury to linger, the team obviously is playing it safe. Pete Orr will remain at second base until Giles is back in action. Giles is 2-for-5 with a double, walk and stolen base in two games this season.

4/12/2005

Mike Hampton, atl

Despite having offseason surgery on his knee, Hampton has picked up where he left off in 2004. The Braves' lefthander, who went 9-1 with a 3.13 ERA in 12 starts after the All-Star break last season, allowed just one run on seven hits over eight innings in Monday's victory over the Washington Nationals. Through two starts in 2005, he is 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA.

If you're looking for strikeouts, there are better options out there than Hampton. He fanned just 87 batters in 172.1 innings all of last season. However, with the help of a solid offense, he should post double-digit wins and keeping his ERA at 3.75 or less is a definite possibility.

Marcus Giles, atl

The Atlanta Braves decided to give Giles one more day to rest his bruised left foot, holding him out of Monday's meeting with the Washington Nationals. However, the second baseman was able to work out with the team prior to the contest, and barring any setbacks he will be back in the lineup for Tuesday's contest, according to manager Bobby Cox. Pete Orr has been starting in his absence.

Giles missed a few days last week with a bone bruise in his left knee as well. It appears he has nearly recovered from both ailments and should return to action on Tuesday. Giles is 2-for-5 with a double, walk and stolen base in two games this season.

4/11/2005

John Smoltz, atl

A breeze could be felt in Atlanta on Sunday, as Smoltz bounced back from his disappointing Opening Day outing to fan 15 New York Mets batters, matching a career best. However, the Braves' veteran righthander, who allowed two runs on eight hits and did not walk a batter in 7.1 innings, took the loss, as he was outdueled by Mets ace Pedro Martinez.

Smoltz lasted just 1.2 innings in his first outing of the season, allowing six earned runs. Don't expect 15 strikeouts every game, but Sunday's performance is more along the lines of what we should see out of Smoltz as the season goes on.

Marcus Giles, atl

After missing a few days with a bone bruise in his left knee, Giles returned to action on Friday, but was forced to leave after fouling a ball off his left foot. The most recent injury kept the second baseman out of the Braves' lineup the past two games, but barring any setbacks, he should be available Monday or Tuesday. He is listed as day-to-day.

In Giles' absence, Pete Orr has seen the majority of the time at second base. Giles is 2-for-5 with a double, walk and stolen base in two games this season.

4/8/2005

Marcus Giles, atl

After sliding into second on Tuesday, Giles appeared to have injured his left knee badly, when an MRI revealed only a bone bruise. Hoping to rejoin the team this weekend, Giles made a surprise start on Friday night. Giles is still in pain, but will play through it.

Good news for all of those Marcus Giles owners who thought the second sacker might be out for over a month. Although he's not 100%, just the fact that he's playing means he'll probably still put up numbers.

4/7/2005

Marcus Giles, atl

An MRI on Giles ailing left knee has revealed a bone bruise, but no structural damage was found. The Braves' second baseman, who suffered the injury sliding into second base early in Tuesday's season-opening loss to the Florida Marlins, was sent back to Atlanta to undergo the tests. He will not play in Thursday's game, but plans to rejoin the team for Friday's home opener and could play some time this weekend. The Braves have listed Giles as day-to-day.

Obviously, good news for Giles and the Braves. As a precaution, Giles might be held out until early next week, according to manager Bobby Cox. Until he is ready to return to the field, Pete Orr and Wilson Betemit will handle the duties at second base for Atlanta. In 102 games last season, Giles batted .311 with eight home runs, 48 RBI and 17 stolen bases.

4/6/2005

John Smoltz, atl

After four years of serving as the Atlanta Braves' primary closer, Smoltz was back in the starting rotation on Tuesday, getting the Opening Day nod against the Florida Marlins. The veteran righthander's return did not go quite as planned, as he lasted just 1.2 innings, allowing seven runs -- six earned -- on six hits. He struck out one batter and walked two.

With the performance, Smoltz matched the shortest outing of his major league career as a starter. He hopes to get back on track when he takes the mound against the New York Mets on Sunday.

Bob Wickman, atl

Wickman entered Wednesday's game against the Chicago White Sox with a 3-0 lead in the ninth inning and appeared to be in line for notching his first save of the 2005 campaign. However, the Indians' veteran closer recorded just one out, surrendered four runs on four hits -- including back-to-back homers to Paul Konerko and Jermaine Dye -- and suffered the loss. He walked one and failed to strike out a batter.

Wickman had a solid spring, allowing just one earned run in nine innings of work. However, there always will be concerns about 36-year-old's elbow problems, as he was limited to 66 appearances over the last three seasons combined. Last season, he went 0-2 with a 4.25 ERA and 13 saves in 30 games.

Marcus Giles, atl

Giles jammed his left knee sliding into second base in the first inning of Tuesday's season-opening loss to the Florida Marlins. The second baseman remained in the lineup until the sixth inning, but eventually was removed as a precautionary measure. All tests on the knee were negative, and the injury has been diagnosed as minor. The Braves have listed Giles as day-to-day.

Giles will be a game-time decision for Wednesday night's rematch. If he is unable to go, the Braves will turn to Wilson Betemit or Pete Orr to fill the void in the lineup. In 102 games last season, Giles batted .311 with eight home runs, 48 RBI and 17 stolen bases.

Marcus Giles, atl

Giles' left knee injury might be more serious than originally thought, as the Braves have sent him back to Atlanta to undergo more tests. The second baseman, who jammed the knee sliding into second base early in Tuesday's loss to the Florida Marlins, will miss at least three games, according to manager Bobby Cox. His status will be updated once results of the tests are known.

Pete Orr will get the starting nod at second base on Wednesday, while Wilson Betemit also could see time at the position in Giles' absence. In 102 games last season, Giles batted .311 with eight home runs, 48 RBI and 17 stolen bases.

4/4/2005

Carlos Almanzar, atl

Almanzar has been placed on the bereavement list by the Texas Rangers after the death of his mother. The righthander will travel to his native Dominican Republic, and the team does not have a definitive timetable for his return, according to manager Buck Showalter. In 67 relief appearances last season, Almanzar went 7-3 with a 3.72 ERA.

Filling Almanzar's roster spot will be Nick Regilio, who was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma.