Location: Atlanta, Ga. | Ballpark: Turner Field (50,096) | Spring Training: Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Owner: Liberty Media | GM: Frank Wren | Manager: Bobby Cox | World Championships: 3
--1B Mark Teixeira left the first game of Monday's doubleheader in the fourth inning with back spasms. He was replaced by INF Greg Norton, who then started at first base in the second game.
--RHP John Smoltz threw 25 pitches on flat ground indoors in Pittsburgh Sunday, his first pitches since suffering right rotator cuff and biceps muscle inflammation April 27.
--OF Gregor Blanco was in the lineup in center field for Sunday's rainout, spelling CF Mark Kotsay, and C Corky Miller was set to sub for regular starting C Brian McCann, and that's the way manager Bobby Cox left it for the first game of Monday's doubleheader. Both Kotsay and McCann started the second game, and Blanco started the second game in left field.
--RHP Charlie Morton, with a 1.76 ERA at Class AAA Richmond, is a candidate to start Friday against the A's in Atlanta; the Braves may decide they need an additional starter after Sunday's rainout forced RHP Jair Jurrjens to pitch on Monday.
--RHP Rafael Soriano (right shoulder tendinitis) threw a short bullpen session Sunday, marking a return to his throwing program after an MRI and bone scan last week showed normal. He should throw again on Tuesday in Philadelphia.
BY THE NUMBERS 2,584 -- LHP Tom Glavine's career strikeouts, placing him 24th on the all-time strikeout list. Glavine passed Bob Feller (2,581) and Warren Spahn (2,583) when the notched three strikeouts against the Pirates May 9.
QUOTE TO NOTE "Amen! Hallelujah!" -- 3B Chipper Jones after the Braves finally won a one-run game, the May 8 5-4 victory over the Padres.
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Julian Tavarez is getting paid over 3.8 million this year. What I can't figure out is why we would give that money away to a 35 year old middle reliever who had a 7.20 era before he joined the Braves. Any ideas??
Well, after to 4-0 games in the first two games, I am looking for the Braves to seal the deal and get a series win on the road against the Marlins. Charlie Morton took the loss in last night's g