--RHP John Smoltz's arm health may force him to consider the bullpen, but manager Bobby Cox says, "In order to win big, John needs to be in the rotation."
--LHP Jo-Jo Reyes is slated to be summoned from Class AAA Richmond to start against the Reds in Atlanta on Saturday, which was originally RHP John Smoltz's next scheduled start. That is, before Smoltz was forced to the 15-day disabled list to rest his right shoulder. --RHP Rafael Soriano (right elbow tendinitis), who had been confident that he'd be back in the bullpen for the recent two-game series in Washington, was sore after a Sunday bullpen session. This even though he threw only fastballs.
--RF Jeff Francoeur's consecutive-games streak stands at 353, the longest active run in the majors. A cortisone shot he got last week in his right ankle -- where an old high school football injury fires up every so often -- has helped to preserve the mark.
--RHP Jair Jurrjens retired 19 consecutive batters between the end of his April 25 start against the Mets (10 batters) and the first innings of his April 30 start against the Nationals (9 batters), both on the road.
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.
