Philadelphia — Braves slugger Chipper Jones was scratched from the lineup Thursday with a groin strain, but the major-league hitting leader said it wasn't serious and he would probably play in Friday's homestand opener against Oakland.

"It's hard to sit out, especially after a good win last night," said Jones, who had a home run and a double in an 8-6 win against the Phillies on Wednesday before he was hurt in his ninth-inning at-bat.

"But I'm thinking bigger picture. If I can miss one game here and there to avoid missing six or seven, or a 15-day DL stint, then I have to be smart enough to be able to step aside for one game."

Jones hit .418 with 11 homers and 32 RBIs and started 37 of Atlanta's 39 games before Thursday. Manager Bobby Cox was optimistic about a quick return from what, by all accounts, seemed a relatively minor injury. "Sometimes it doesn't even last a day, so we'll see," Cox said.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Jones is the fourth National League player since 1960 to record at least 60 hits and 10 homers before his team's 40th game, joining Billy Williams (1964 Cubs), Lou Brock (1967 Cardinals) and Larry Walker (1997 Rockies).

The last Braves player to do it was Hank Aaron with the 1959 Milwaukee Braves.

Jones said he felt his right groin tighten when he swung and missed a slider from Rudy Seanez to lead off the ninth inning Wednesday. "It bit me," he said. "I buckled a little bit on that slider ... and it didn't feel good real good running down to first."

He grounded out, then stayed in to play defense in the bottom of the ninth.

"It was a three-run game," going to the bottom of the ninth, Jones said. "The game was still in question, so I wanted to stay in. Didn't know if I'd have to come up [to bat] again."

It was diagnosed as a mild adductor (groin) strain. Jones said his groin hadn't bothered him before the ninth-inning at-bat, and that the last time he had any similar injury was last season.

"Last night it was hurting laying in bed," said Jones, who had more discomfort when he hit off a tee at the ballpark Thursday.

"More so from the right side than the left side," the switch-hitter said. "So with a lefty [Cole Hamels] going tonight, it's probably best if I just take tonight off, treat it and try to get it better as quick as we can."

After playing 137 or fewer games in each of the past four seasons due to injuries, Jones hoped to play at least 150 games this season. The only two he missed before Thursday were due to back spasms.

Cox moved utility man Omar Infante to third base Thursday and gave Ruben Gotay his second start of the season at second base. Infante had been in the original lineup at second base, the lineup Cox has used lately against left-handers.