Hudson's return to rotation pushed back

By DAVID O'BRIEN

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Philadelphia — Tim Hudson’s anticipated return to the Braves’ starting rotation was pushed back from Monday night to Tuesday because of a nagging injury — but not his own.

When center fielder Nate McLouth aggravated a hamstring playing in a rehab-assignment game at Class AA Mississippi on Saturday, it forced the Braves to alter plans.

Kenshin Kawakami was supposed to have had his rotation turn skipped and been replaced by Hudson for Monday night’s series opener at Florida, but Kawakami will instead pitch and Hudson will wait to pitch Tuesday.

Hudson is returning a little more than one year after having reconstructive elbow surgery.

The change was made because rosters can be expanded Tuesday, meaning the Braves won’t have to make a move to get Hudson on the 25-man roster. If they’d used him Monday night, they would have had to make a 25-man roster move to open a spot.

With McLouth’s return from the DL delayed — he’s scheduled to have an MRI Monday on his hamstring — the Braves didn’t want to send a position player to Class AAA to open a spot for Hudson.

“We’re out of options,” said manager Bobby Cox, who hoped McLouth’s injury was mild and that he might be able to join the Braves in another four or five days.

The Braves are monitoring the health of first baseman Adam LaRoche, who left Saturday’s game with a sore hip but was back in the lineup Sunday; and outfielder Ryan Church, who was scratched again Sunday because of back soreness.

LaRoche said he was surprised by how much better his hip felt when he woke Sunday, after postgame treatment he received Saturday. “It doesn’t feel great, but it feels good enough,” he said.

If the Braves had optioned outfielder Reid Gorecki or someone else to Class AAA Gwinnett to open a spot for Hudson, that player would likely have been required to stay at Gwinnett for 10 days before he could be recalled. With so many lingering health issues on the team, the Braves didn’t want to do that.

As a result, Kawakami found out about 4 p.m. Sunday, after arriving at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, that he would be starting the series opener at Florida. He hadn’t expected to make his next start for at least five days.

Cox had hoped to give Kawakami “a breather” because the 34-year-old Japanese rookie has already pitched as much as he did all last season in Japan, and appeared to tire in his last start. Cox said he would now get rest next week.

“To be honest, I am surprised,” Kawakami said through his interpreter. “There’s almost no time to adjust at this point. I’m just going to try to pitch and help the team. With the team’s situation now, there’s really nothing I can say.”

Another option briefly discussed was having rookie Tommy Hanson pitch on short rest Monday night, after his Friday start was cut to two innings by rain delays. But Cox said he and pitching coach Roger McDowell agreed that wouldn’t be a prudent move with the prized rookie.

Kawakami and his interpreter were booked for a 7:20 p.m. Sunday flight to Florida. The Braves played a night game and didn’t want Kawakami on the team charter that wasn’t expected to land in Fort Lauderdale until 3 a.m. or later.

Hudson was already in Florida on Sunday, having flown there anticipating his debut Monday night.