Quote Originally Posted by Braves.com
ATLANTA -- When the Braves begin a key three-game series against the Mets at Shea Stadium on Tuesday night, Andruw Jones will return to their lineup. They can only hope that he'll do so with a left elbow that feels much better than it has the past two months.

With the pain increasing in his hyperextended elbow, Jones decided after Friday night's loss to the Rockies that it was time to get a cortisone shot. This will keep him out of the lineup for the rest of this weekend and quite possibly provide him the relief he desires by the time the three-game series against the Mets begins.

With a three-game series scheduled in both Philadelphia and New York, next week will be a very important one for the Braves. They entered Saturday sitting in third place in the National League East race, 5 1/2 games behind the front-running Mets and a half-game behind the Phillies.

"I will be back in there on Tuesday," Jones said. "That's why I went to get it, so that I can be ready to play against the Mets and Phillies."

Jones first began feeling discomfort on May 27, after he successfully reached over the outfield wall to rob Philadelphia's Greg Dobbs of a home run. While there were some periods of relief, the Gold Glove center fielder has played most of the past two months with discomfort.

While going hitless in four at-bats on Friday night, he wore a white sleeve in hopes of bracing the elbow. But he still felt pain while extending to reach pitches on the outside portion of the plate.

Jones' ailment obviously isn't as severe as the high right ankle sprain that will sideline Edgar Renteria for the next two or three weeks. But it stands among the many medical concerns for the Braves, who have told Chipper Jones not to take batting practice the next two days in hopes that he'll experience some relief with the left thumb injury that he aggravated on Thursday.

"We play the game every day so you're going to get your share of injuries," said Andruw Jones, who had missed just two games so far this season. "Most of the guys know how to play through injuries. But there are some that just aren't going to let you play."

Aybar in the picture? Willy Aybar has been released from a substance abuse program and he now finds himself at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex attempting to get himself into shape and possibly finally prove to be an asset for the Braves by the time September arrives.

While Braves general manager John Schuerholz stops short of saying he "expects" Aybar to play at the Major League level this year, he's hopeful that the versatile infielder will make his way to the Atlanta roster. Once he gets into shape, Aybar will begin playing in the club's Minor League system. The 24-year-old infielder, who was obtained from the Dodgers in a trade deadline deal last year, may make a few stops before it's determined that he's ready for Major League competition.

"We're hopeful that he can get his playing skills back to where they were when we got him in that trade," Schuerholz said. "We think he could be a real asset if we can get him back to that point."

With uncertainty surrounding Renteria's ankle, Aybar's potential value has certainly increased. But as of now, the Braves don't really know what to expect from the infielder, whose brief time in their organization has been rather forgettable.

Aybar arrived in Spring Training this year with a sore right wrist and the prolonged effects of the ailment forced him to begin the season on the disabled list. When he didn't show up for physical rehab work at Turner Field on April 14 and 15, it marked the earliest signs of the substance abuse problems that forced him to spend the past few months in a rehab center.

Braves bits: Julio Franco will remain on the waiver wire until 1 p.m. ET on Monday. If he's not claimed by another organization, the Braves remain hopeful that he'll accept an assignment with one of their Minor League affiliates. ... Buddy Carlyle will throw a bullpen session on Sunday without any fear that his hyperextended right elbow will force him to miss his scheduled start on Tuesday.

Coming Up: The Braves will conclude their three-game series against the Rockies on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. ET. They'll send Chuck James (9-8, 3.70 ERA) to the mound to face Aaron Cook (8-6, 4.13).
I would give Andruw plenty of rest with two must win series coming up.