Given the serious concerns about his right shoulder and the abrupt move he's making back to the bullpen as a result, perhaps the least of John Smoltz's concerns was what song would play when he made his entrance from the bullpen.

"At this point, it could be Barney for all I care," Smoltz said Monday after being activated from the 15-day disabled list. "As long as those [bullpen] doors open when I push on them."

There was no great musical fanfare when he entered in the ninth. It took fans a few moments after Smoltz emerged from the bullpen before the applause started.

Despite blowing the save against the Marlins, manager Bobby Cox plans to split closer duties among Smoltz, Rafael Soriano and Manny Acosta for the immediate future.

Smoltz, a former All-Star closer and the only pitcher with at least 200 wins and 150 saves, said he would talk to Cox and pitching coach Roger McDowell each day to let them know how he felt.

"We'll play it by ear every day," Cox said. "We're happy to have him back. It's good for the confidence of the team, to have a guy like that back. We'll see how it goes."

Reliever Phil Stockman was optioned to Class AAA Richmond to open a roster spot for Smoltz, 41, who dropped down to a three-quarters angle delivery as a concession to the persistent shoulder pain. He had 154 saves through 2004, including a National League-record 55 saves in 2002.

Boyer's knee OK

An MRI exam of Blaine Boyer's right knee Monday showed no structural damage and the reliever was cleared to continue pitching.

"Just a little fluid [on the knee], but everything's strong," said Boyer, who strained the knee when he slipped on the pitching rubber Sunday at Cincinnati. "The doctor said I could pitch [Monday]."

Boyer has a 3.66 ERA in 31 games, the second-most relief appearances in the major leagues before Monday. At that rate he would make 88 appearances in a 162-game season, four above Chris Reitsma's franchise-record 84 appearances in 2004.

The injury-plagued Braves have relied heavily on Boyer, Acosta and veteran Will Ohman, the left-hander who was tied for third-most appearances in the majors with 30 before Monday. Acosta pitched in 22 of the past 43 games.

Hudson 'little sore'

Tim Hudson reiterated Monday that he doesn't think his sore hamstring will keep him from making his next scheduled start Friday against Philadelphia, but Cox said the Braves might have a minor league pitcher on standby just in case.

Hudson strained his left hamstring in the seventh inning Sunday.

"I feel OK, just a little sore," Hudson said. "It's nothing like when I had [a pulled hamstring] in the past. Just get some treatment, stay on top of it the next four days, ice it, and I should be able to pitch."

Kotsay 'no better'

The update provided on Mark Kotsay's injured back wasn't nearly as positive.

"Kotsay is no better; he's still hurting," Cox said of the center fielder, who hasn't played since May 25 due to soreness in his surgically repaired back. "He's got pain running down his leg. Back problems are rough. Really, really rough."

Kotsay hit .294 with 14 extra-base hits (four homers) and 21 RBIs before going on the DL with his first significant back pain since coming from Oakland in a Jan. 14 trade for reliever Joey Devine.