While the Braves consider outfielders from other teams who could be available before the July 31 trade deadline, Matt Diaz hopes he can help boost that punchless part of the offense soon.

The left fielder could rejoin the Braves before the All-Star break, after spending the past five weeks on the disabled list recovering from a partially torn ligament in his left knee.

"I should be back very soon," said Diaz, who has passed every test in recent days, including sprints, quick cuts, and hitting. "I feel like I'm 100 percent [recovered]. I'm ready to get back out there. It's been tough not being able to help out."

Though he hit only .250 with two homers in 42 games before he was hurt, the Braves know he's capable of more. Diaz hit .330 with 36 doubles and 19 home runs in 655 at-bats in a platoon role during the 2006-07 seasons.

He fared better in that role than in full-time duties at the start of this season. The Braves might consider using the right-handed hitter in a platoon with rookie Gregor Blanco, who before Wednesday was hitting .296 against right-handers and .208 against lefties.

Blanco has provided a spark in the leadoff role recently, hitting .344 in his past 17 games, including five consecutive multihit games before Wednesday. He played center field while Mark Kotsay was on the DL, and moved to left field when Kotsay returned Tuesday.

Braves outfielders ranked 15th in the National League in homers (18) and 13th in RBIs (108) before Wednesday.

Escobar back in lineup

After getting Chipper Jones back in the lineup Tuesday, the Braves welcomed back shortstop Yunel Escobar on Wednesday after his five-start absence for a left-shoulder strain.

The Braves were prepared to activate utility infielder Martin Prado, but manager Bobby Cox first wanted to see how Escobar's shoulder held up during the game. Prado is expected to be activated today, with rookie Brent Lillibridge likely to be sent to Class AAA Richmond.

If Escobar had any problems, the Braves could delay activating Prado and keep Lillibridge around a little longer to play shortstop, the weakest of Prado's three infield positions (he's a good second baseman and third baseman, and can also play left field).

Escobar got a cortisone injection in his shoulder Monday on the team's day off, and the medication usually requires two or three days to take effect.

Lillibridge hit .154 with one RBI, no walks and nine strikeouts in 24 at-bats before Wednesday.

Jurrjens vs. Hamels Thursday

Braves rookie sensation Jair Jurrjens (8-3, 2.94 ERA) takes a 23-inning streak without allowing an earned run into an anticipated matchup tonight with young Phillies ace Cole Hamels (8-5, 3.38 ERA) in the series finale.

Hamels has won four consecutive starts against the Braves, including a four-hit shutout in his most recent start against them May 15.

Jurrjens hasn't allowed an earned run in three consecutve starts while working six or more innings in each. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he's the first Braves rookie pitcher to do that since Dana Fillingim of the Boston Braves in 1918.

"It's going to be fun," said Jurrjens, who noted it's hardly the first time he has squared off against an elite pitcher. [Cleveland's Fausto] Carmona twice, [the Mets' Johan] Santana once, [Arizona's Brandon] Webb. ..."

Jurrjens, an All-Star candidate who leads major-league rookie starters in wins and ERA, said he looked forward to matchups against the best pitchers.

"That's where you can show the rest of the world you can get close to [those pitchers' level]," Jurrjens said. "When I face big pitchers like that, it makes me concentrate even more, because you need to make less mistakes in those games. I put a little more pressure on myself."

He'll put another streak on the line: Jurrjens is 7-0 in 13 home starts with Detroit and Atlanta, and his teams have won all 13 games. He's 5-0 with a 2.49 ERA in eight home starts for the Braves.