ATLANTA (AP) -Braves right-hander Tim Hudson had an MRI on Monday that showed ligament damage in his pitching elbow, sending the ace to the disabled list and leaving the rest of his season in doubt.
Atlanta also placed slugger Chipper Jones on the DL, a setback for a team trying to revive its fading hopes in the NL East.
General manager Frank Wren said the club is trying to get Hudson an appointment with orthopedist James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., this week.
“It’s not good,” Wren said during the Braves’ game against the St. Louis Cardinals. “It’s more than inflammation. Some of the damage is old, some of it new.”
Jones leads the majors in hitting at .369. He hurt his left hamstring running out a grounder Wednesday night and has been slow to heal.
Both players went on the DL retroactive to Friday, the latest in a devastating series of injuries to strike the Braves this season.
Longtime ace John Smoltz is out for the season. So is reliever Peter Moylan. Two other key pitchers, Tom Glavine and Rafael Soriano, have spent significant time on the DL. Mike Hampton finally made his first appearance in nearly three years this last weekend.
“You can’t sustain the injuries that we’ve sustained and expect to stay competitive at or near the top of the division,” Jones said. “It’s impossible, especially when we’re replacing guys like myself, Smoltz and Glavine and Soriano and Moylan with minor league guys. You’re just not going to get the same results.”
Atlanta began the day 7 1/2 games behind division-leading New York after two excruciating losses in Philadelphia over the weekend. The Braves blew a six-run lead on Saturday and lost 10-9, then followed up by squandering a five-run cushion Sunday in a 12-10 defeat.
Hudson is 11-7 with a 3.17 ERA. He wanted to start against the Cardinals on Monday, but manager Bobby Cox ruled that out.
“He doesn’t feel that bad,” Wren said. “I think everyone was surprised.”
With the trade deadline coming up Thursday, there’s plenty of speculation the Braves will start retooling their roster for 2009. First baseman Mark Teixeira, in the final year of his contract and determined to test free agency, is most likely to be dealt.
“It’s awfully bleak because of the injury situation and the trade deadline coming up and the trade rumors swirling around here,” Jones said. “We’re already pointed towards next year.”
The Braves also optioned left-hander Jo-Jo Reyes to Triple-A Richmond. Atlanta recalled pitcher Charlie Morton and catcher Clint Sammons from Richmond and activated reliever Jeff Bennett from the disabled list.
Morton was scheduled to start the opener of a four-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals, and Jose Campillo, who went only 1 2-3 innings Sunday before the game was delayed by rain, will return Tuesday to take Hudson’s spot in the rotation.
All-Star catcher Brian McCann sustained a mild concussion in a collision at home plate at Philadelphia on Sunday. He is expected to miss three or four games.
“I feel like I thought would: headache, neck hurts, jaw’s sore,” McCann said.
Jones believes he probably could have returned in less than 15 days, but he knew the team needed another position player with McCann hurting.
“It’s disappointing,” he said. “I felt like I could have helped us that last series and maybe pushed us over the top.”
Reyes was 3-9 with a 5.34 ERA in 16 games, all but one of them as a starter. Manager Bobby Cox said the left-hander has made changes in his delivery and needs to become more comfortable in game situations.
“I’m not mad about it,” Reyes said. “I kind of had a feeling. I haven’t been pitching very good the last three or four outings.”
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Associated Press Writer George Henry and freelance writer Amy Jinkner-Lloyd contributed to this report.
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