--3B Chipper Jones is hoping Monday's off-day, following two days out of the lineup, will be enough to temper the pain he's feeling in his back. The spasms themselves, which caused Jones to miss two of the three games against the Mets in New York, have subsided.
--INF Martin Prado went 3-for-8 starting at third base in place of Chipper Jones (back spasms) Saturday and Sunday. Prado is batting .433, and his seven home runs and 20 RBIs lead the team. --RHP Rafael Soriano, who has paid no attention to the directive not to throw a ball to allow his right elbow tendinitis to subside, had been saying for the last week that he'd be ready to go Tuesday in Washington. Not so fast: The arm was sore after throwing in the bullpen in New York Sunday morning.
--SS Yunel Escobar's bruised right index finger is much less swollen than when it was first hit while bunting Friday night at Shea Stadium. He hopes to be back in the lineup Tuesday against the Nationals in Washington.
--INF Brent Lillibridge, called up from Class AAA Richmond Saturday morning to play in place of SS Yunel Escobar (bruised right index finger), got his first major league RBI beating out what could have been a double play in the sixth inning Sunday. He is still looking for his first major league hit.
BY THE NUMBERS: 0 -- Number of split-finger fastballs RHP John Smoltz threw in spring training. He used the pitch to record his 3,000th career strikeout April 22 against Nationals 2B Felipe Lopez.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's more mental than physical at this point." -- LHP Mike Hampton, on rehabbing his strained left pectoral muscle.
