Slumping Chipper Jones sits with strain

CHICAGO — Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: Chipper Jones was out of the Braves’ lineup Tuesday with a sore right groin.

The 37-year-old third baseman cautiously predicted he would not be out long.

“A day or two,” he said. “Hopefully.”

Jones said he felt a twinge as he came out of the batter’s box Monday on his fourth-inning single. He scored on Yunel Escobar’s hit later in the inning and played the entire game.

Jones was replaced Tuesday by versatile Martin Prado, who moved from second base after starting seven consecutive games at that position. Utility man Brooks Conrad made his second start of the season at second.

Although the Braves are usually far more formidable with Jones in the lineup, the veteran has been in a slump. Jones is 19-for-89 (.213) with one homer, nine RBIs and a .303 slugging percentage in his past 25 games.

Before his power outage, he had hit .483 with four homers and 14 RBIs in an eight-game binge through June 9.

If he’s going to miss a game or two, Wrigley Field is about the best place for Jones to sit. His .203 average and .295 OBP in 49 games at the venerable park are his second-worst at any stadium where he has played more than three games.

Cubs’ Dempster to DL

The Braves found out only 3-1/2 hours before Tuesday’s game that Carlos Zambrano would pitch instead of scheduled starter Ryan Dempster.

Dempster was diagnosed with a broken right toe Tuesday, two days after he was hurt jumping over a fence in front of the dugout to get onto the field to celebrate after a Cubs win. He got his foot caught on the fence.

Cubs manager Lou Piniella joked that it was a typical injury for the Cubs, notorious for their misery and bad luck for most of a century.

Zambrano had been scheduled to start Wednesday’s series finale, but the Cubs recalled right-hander Kevin Hart from Class AAA to handle that assignment.

Norton in limbo

Greg Norton’s rehab stint expired at Class AAA Gwinnett, and the veteran pinch-hitter was recalled by the Braves. But he wasn’t activated, and it’s uncertain if or when he will be.

Manager Bobby Cox said Norton, who had been rehabbing a sore ankle, would continue to work out and join the Braves in Colorado, where they start a four-game series Thursday.

“We’ll figure it out from there,” Cox said.

After ranking among the majors’ best pinch-hitters in 2008, Norton has hit only .098 (4-for-41) with no homers and three RBIs this season, including four hits in 33 at-bats as a pinch-hitter.

The Braves might choose to keep outfielder Gregor Blanco on the roster as their fifth outfielder and backup center fielder.