Article:The Tomahawk Times - Rotation suffers another blow, Glavine strains elbow

CHICAGO -- Tom Glavine is expected to miss at least one start with a strained left elbow, suffered in his start against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday.

Making his first start in Wrigley Field since winning his 300th game as a member of the New York Mets on August 5 of last season, Glavine lasted just three innings and allowed four runs to the the Cubs.

Glavine was placed on the disabled list for the first time in his 22-year career in April with a strained right hamstring, a move both he and the Braves are hoping to avoid with the rash of injuries that has beset Atlanta starting pitchers.

This latest set back for the rotation comes on the same day in which John Smoltz went under the knife in Birmingham, Ala. Dr. James Andrews repaired damage to the labrum in what the team termed as "a successful arthroscopic surgery" on Smoltz's right shoulder.

Smoltz had hoped to know after the procedure whether or not he would be able to return to the team next season, but the Braves did not release any further details about the type or severity of the damage corrected by the procedure.

"The prognosis on John's shoulder is unclear based on the findings of today's surgery," said Braves General Manager Frank Wren in a statement released by the team. "We will know more as John starts to progress through his rehab."

Atlanta is still without left-hander Mike Hampton, who threw yet another bullpen session on Sunday. Hampton was placed on the 15-day disabled list April 3, after being scratched just minutes before his first start of the season with a torn left pectoral muscle.

Hampton last pitched in a regular season game in August of 2005, but had a strong spring for the Braves. In five starts, the 35-year old lefty went 1-0 with a 2.16 ERA and earned a spot in the rotation. The pectoral injury was re-aggravated during a rehab assignment with Triple-A Richmond on April 30.

The Braves could send Hampton on another rehab assignment sometime over the next week, with hopes of him returning to the rotation before the All-Star break.

Atlanta signed veteran right-handed starter Brian Lawrence to a minor league contract on Monday. Lawrence, 32, was pitching for the Camden Riversharks of the Independent Atlantic League after being released by the Kansas City Royals on March 27.

After missing the entire 2006 season with right shoulder surgery, Lawrence spent last season with the Mets. Lawrence went 1-2 with 6.83 ERA in 6 starts. The Braves wanted Lawrence to provide more depth to the injury-riddled rotation and assigned him to Richmond.