Braves get Prado, Anderson back

By David O’Brien

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Martin Prado returned to the Braves’ lineup Tuesday, and this time the headache-plagued second baseman said he felt more assured about being ready.

“Oh, man, way better,” Prado said after taking infield and batting practice, the first time he took full swings in a week since being prescribed medication for exertional headaches.

“I feel confident,” he said. “I’ve got some strength in my legs. My body feels good. I feel relaxed. Now it just depends on how it goes in the game.”

He was cleared to play after a follow-up exam Tuesday with Dr. Richard Bernstein, the neurologist who diagnosed his condition Aug. 19.

Prado, 25, left a game Aug. 18 in New York and returned to Atlanta the next day. He believes the condition was caused, at least in part, by worrying about his mother, who had just returned from Atlanta to his violence-torn homeland of Venezuela after her six-month visa expired.

He was prescribed Indocin. Prado has taken the medication for a week and said after another week the dosage would be cut in half, provided he has no setbacks.

After winning a starting job June 30, he hit .339 with 18 extra-base hits (five homers) and 28 RBIs in 39 games through Aug. 14, including 24 wins.

Prado left an Aug. 15 game against Philadelphia with headaches, which were initially thought to be heat-related. When they came back each time he exerted himself over the next several days, Prado underwent a battery of tests, including CT scans.

One in, one not

Left fielder Garret Anderson returned to the lineup Tuesday after missing three games for a lower back/hip strain, while right fielder Ryan Church missed his third consecutive start recovering from back spasms.

“I’ll play [Wednesday],” said Church, adding that he might be available to pinch-hit Tuesday night against San Diego. He said he felt only mild soreness Tuesday when he threw, not when he hit.

“It’s almost gone,” he said. “The best course is to just chill one more day and have it be gone. ... I want to get back in there and get more doubles.”

Church had 10 doubles and 12 RBIs in 13 games before the back spasms.

McLouth rehab set

Center fielder Nate McLouth (strained hamstring) likely will rejoin the Braves on Monday, when he’s eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list. He’s eager.

“Heck, yeah, especially with the way the team is playing and the way things are starting to shape up with the standings,” he said. “The only meaningful games I ever played in September were in high school football.”

Before his years in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, McLouth was a quarterback at Whitehall High School in Michigan.

He tested his hamstring Tuesday with sprints at 75-percent effort and said it felt good. He’s set to start a rehab assignment Friday at Class AA Mississippi.

Heyward, Freeman sidelined

Injured Braves prospects Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman returned from Class AA Mississippi to Atlanta on Tuesday to be examined by Braves doctors. Neither injury is considered serious.

Heyward, rated the top prospect in baseball at midseason by Baseball America, was diagnosed with a bruised heel that might cause the slugging outfielder to miss two or three games.

Freeman was placed on the seven-day DL with a bruised hand, which Braves general manager Frank Wren said resulted from the first baseman being repeatedly being jammed on inside pitches. Chipper Jones had a similar injury early this season.