--SS Yunel Escobar's left shoulder MRI, taken in Atlanta on Monday, revealed an inflamed rotator cuff. Escobar was held out of the three-game series in San Diego just before the All-Star break, and the Braves are hoping that the extra rest will allow Escobar to return.
--LHP Mike Hampton will not make his long-awaited appearance this week after sustaining a mild left groin strain. It seems the injury first occurred a week ago, but he pitched with it then and attempted to do the same Wednesday with Class AA Mississippi in what was supposed to have been his final rehab appearance. He left that game after two innings. --LHP Tom Glavine (strained left flexor tendon) will be aggressive once he begins throwing off the mound because he can't stand not knowing whether he'll be able to pitch again this season. If the tendon blows and he needs surgery, he wants to find that out as quickly as possible.
--RHP Tim Hudson used the Braves' 12-3 blowout of the Padres on Sunday as a bullpen session; he came on in relief, pitching a scoreless eighth inning on 11 pitches. Hudson will take the mound Friday against the Nationals to open the second half of the Braves' season.
--LF Matt Diaz predicted he would return from a strained left posterior cruciate ligament injury in exactly six weeks, which means he should be activated for this weekend's series with the Nationals. Diaz was batting .293 with runners in scoring position at the time of his injury, May 27 in Milwaukee, and that's something the Braves desperately need. He hit .231 in seven rehab games with Class AA Mississippi.
BY THE NUMBERS: 5 -- Games back of the division leaders by the All-Star break that general manager Frank Wren and manager Bobby Cox thought, two weeks ago, was a reasonable gap to overcome. The Braves are 6 1/2 behind the Phillies.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We just haven't been able to overcome the early-season injuries. Slowly but surely, we're starting to get exposed." -- 3B Chipper Jones, on the state of the team at the All-Star break.
