Everyone in the bullpen is supposedly healthy, but if that's true, the Braves are in trouble. The relievers had a collective 9.45 ERA in their first 13 1/3 innings, but the three main relievers performed as they were expected to perform on April 11 in a 5-3 win over the Nationals. RHP Peter Moylan struck out the side in the seventh inning. RHP Rafael Soriano labored but got through the eighth, and LHP Mike Gonzalez struck out two in the ninth to get the save.
PLAYER NEWS: --C David Ross (right groin strain) was activated from the 15-day disabled list and started, catching RHP Kenshin Kawakami. Ross walked and singled and threw out a baserunner at second.
--C Clint Sammons, who didn't appear in any of the Braves' first eight games, was optioned to Class AAA Gwinnett.
--3B Chipper Jones sat out another game with a bone bruise on his left thumb. The swelling has lessened considerably, but he still can't grip a bat.
--SS Yunel Escobar left the game after five innings with a strained abdominal muscle sustained when he was jumping up and down in the on-deck circle to loosen up before his fifth-inning at-bat. He is day-to-day but will be evaluated again Friday.
MEDICAL WATCH:
RHP Jorge Campillo (right shoulder tendinitis) went on the 15-day disabled list April 17. He said he was merely suffering from a dead arm.
C David Ross (strained right groin) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 1. He began a rehab assignment with Class A Rome on April 14, and he was activated April 16.
3B Chipper Jones (bone bruise on left thumb) sat out April 15-16. He might miss another day or two.
LHP Tom Glavine (shoulder and elbow surgeries) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 1. He had to cut short an April 12 rehab start with Class AA Mississippi with shoulder discomfort, and he was shut down from throwing for two weeks.
RHP Charlie Morton (left oblique strain) went on the 15-day disabled list March 30. He began a rehab assignment with Class AAA Gwinnett on April 12.
RHP Tim Hudson (Tommy John surgery on right elbow in August 2008) went on the 60-day disabled list March 4. He is targeting an August return date, barring setbacks.
ROTATION:
RHP Derek Lowe
RHP Jair Jurrjens
RHP Javier Vazquez
RHP Kenshin Kawakami
BULLPEN:
LHP Mike Gonzalez (closer)
RHP Blaine Boyer
RHP Peter Moylan
RHP Jeff Bennett
RHP Buddy Carlyle
LHP Eric O'Flaherty
RHP Rafael Soriano
RHP James Parr
CATCHERS:
Brian McCann
David Ross
INFIELDERS:
1B Casey Kotchman
2B Kelly Johnson
SS Yunel Escobar
3B Chipper Jones
INF Martin Prado
INF/OF Omar Infante
INF/OF Greg Norton
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Garret Anderson
CF Jordan Schafer
RF Jeff Francoeur
OF Matt Diaz
