--3B Chipper Jones was not in the starting lineup Thursday against the Phillies after waking up with a sore right groin, sustained in his last at-bat Wednesday. Jones was hitting at .409 (9-for-22) in six games on the team's road trip, and that included two hitless games in Pittsburgh. INF Omar Infante started at third in his place and got one of the Braves' four hits.
--RHP John Smoltz threw lightly off a mound Thursday for the first time since going on the disabled list with inflammation in his right biceps and rotator cuff. Manager Bobby Cox is hopeful Smoltz could be in the bullpen in a couple of weeks. --OF Matt Diaz started in left field Thursday in place of Gregor Blanco, and INF Ruben Gotay started at second base in place of Kelly Johnson as manager Bobby Cox platooned his right-handed hitters against Phillies LHP Cole Hamels. Cox wanted to give Gotay, a switch hitter who's primarily a pinch hitter, some at-bats. Blanco (one hit) ended up in the game anyway, in center field on a double switch.
--LHP Mike Gonzalez, rehabbing from elbow ligament replacement surgery, is scheduled to throw two innings in an extended spring training stint this weekend, but that could turn into a minor league rehab assignment instead.
--RHP Jair Jurrjens will indeed start Friday against the A's in Atlanta. The fact that he threw 69 pitches in the first game of Monday's doubleheader against in Pittsburgh allowed manager Bobby Cox to send Jurrjens back out only a half-day shy of regular rest. It also means another starter won't have to be called up.
BY THE NUMBERS: 2,584 -- LHP Tom Glavine's career strikeouts, placing him 24th on the all-time strikeout list. Glavine passed Bob Feller (2,581) and Warren Spahn (2,583) when the notched three strikeouts against the Pirates May 9.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Amen! Hallelujah!" -- 3B Chipper Jones after the Braves finally won a one-run game, the May 8 5-4 victory over the Padres.
