Miami — The injury-plagued Braves were starved for a bit of good news on the health front, and got it before Wednesday's game when left-handers Tom Glavine and Mike Hampton threw bullpen sessions without pain.

The Braves were still awaiting word on setup man Peter Moylan, who has what was feared to be a serious elbow injury and traveled to Birmingham on Wednesday for a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews.

Glavine tested the right hamstring that he strained in the first inning Sunday at Washington and pronounced it fit enough for him to make his next start.

"I feel pretty good — good enough that I plan on pitching Saturday," the 42-year-old said, "unless I have any setbacks tomorrow or Saturday."

Hampton said he had no lingering soreness from a strained pectoral muscle that put him on the disabled list. But he'll probably need at least two or three more weeks before he's ready to join the Braves' rotation.

"I was fine," said Hampton, though he stressed that he threw only about 40 pitches, all fastballs and sinkers, and not at maximum exertion. "I didn't over it the first time out.

"I really didn't let any [pitches] go. I felt good. I'll probably take a day off, then [throw another bullpen]. We'll see how it reacts tomorrow."

Hampton is eligible to come off the disabled list at any time, but said he would likely need at least a few minor-league rehab starts to regain his form. He believes his arm strength won't be a problem.

"Gonna have to make sure [pitch] command is regained," he said, "plus get it out of your head that, 'This pitch could hurt.' "

Hampton hasn't pitched in a major-league game in 32 months, after missing the past two seasons recovering from elbow surgeries 16 months apart. He was scratched from his would-be season debut minutes before the first pitch.

Hampton is on his eighth disabled-list stint since 2005, while Glavine has never been on the DL during his 22-year major-league career.

Glavine had said he needed to make sure he did the prudent thing and was honest in assessing his condition.

After spending the better part of three days getting treatment and stretching, he was confident he'd be ready to pitch Saturday.

"There's certainly still things I can't simulate out there until I get in a game," he said. "I'm not going to say [the injury] will be totally off my mind, but it's not going to consume me."

He smiled and added, "I'm not going to let out any doubles or triples."

Manager Bobby Cox said he hadn't decided on a starter for Friday's series opener against the Dodgers and would wait to see "who's left standing" after Thursday's game. Buddy Carlyle and Jeff Bennett are candidates for the start, provided they weren't needed in relief Thursday.

Smoltz: How 'bout a do-over?

John Smoltz said sporadic shoulder tightness and spasms he's experienced since late March won't keep him from pitching, long as the condition doesn't worsen. He takes a 2-0 record and 0.82 ERA to tonight's series-finale start at Florida.

"I have some secondary stuff going on, causing spasms," said Smoltz, who is making his third start, after beginning the season on the DL with an inflamed shoulder. "I could wake up tomorrow and nothing happens. ...

"The good news is, I've had two successful starts [with it]."

Smoltz joked about his pal: "Old fart Glavine — get him back on the field, and I'll feel good about it."

But there haven't been many light-hearted moments lately for the Braves, who were 5-8 overall and 2-5 on the current trip before Thursday.

"I sure wish we could go back to spring training and start over," he said. "It's been awful 10 days, or two weeks. Baseball can be cruel."

But he knows not even one-tenth of the season has been played.

"It's been an awful two weeks," he said. "Yet, it's just two weeks."

Soriano optimistic about return

He hadn't thrown off a mound in more than a week, but closer Rafael Soriano said Wednesday he should be ready to return from the 15-day DL on April 22 — the first day he's eligible.

"I think so," said the Dominican, who went on the DL with elbow tendinitis April 10, retroactive to April 7.

Soriano said he felt better throwing on flat ground Tuesday and probably would return to the mound after the Braves get back to Atlanta on Friday.