--OF Gregor Blanco, it turns out, has been playing with bone spurs in his right ankle for two months but only lately have they begun to really bother him. That's one reason manager Bobby Cox held him out of Monday's game. Cox also wants to rest guys when he can at this point in the season.
--LHP Jo-Jo Reyes will be recalled from Class AAA Richmond to make Tuesday's start against the Mets at Shea Stadium. Reyes has been trying to get comfortable with adjustments in his delivery while in the minors. He was fine in the bullpen with the Braves but couldn't carry that over into games. --C Clint Sammons is hitless in his last 14 at-bats, but to keep that in perspective, he is with the Braves for his defense and receiving skills, and his offense is still a notch above that of C Corky Miller, whom he replaced.
--RHP Manny Acosta (strained left hamstring) allowed two hits but no earned runs and struck out two in two-thirds of an inning of his first rehab assignment with Class AAA Richmond.
--RHP Jair Jurrjens is 4-5 with a 2.81 ERA over his last 10 starts (67 1/3 innings, 21 earned runs). He has gone at least six innings in each of those starts.
BY THE NUMBERS: 29-9 -- Cumulative score of the Cubs' three-game sweep of the Braves Aug. 13-14.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Guys are just throwing me fastballs because they know I can't get the bat head there. I'm just late. I haven't driven a ball in three weeks. You miss that feeling. It's not like they're tricking me." -- OF Jeff Francoeur, who was hitting .231 through Aug. 17, including a .200 mark in August.
