Cabrera could begin season on DL for recent elbow soreness

Braves reliever Mauricio Cabrera, pictured during an early spring training workout, has not thrown since experiencing elbow soreness after his Monday appearance. (Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com)

Credit: Curtis Compton

Credit: Curtis Compton

Braves reliever Mauricio Cabrera, pictured during an early spring training workout, has not thrown since experiencing elbow soreness after his Monday appearance. (Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com)

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – An arm that routinely fires 100-mph fastballs is too valuable to put at risk, so it won’t be surprising if Braves reliever Mauricio Cabrera begins the season on the disabled list, even though he said his sore elbow felt a lot better Saturday.

“I had something similar in the past and I think it was a little more serious (that time),” Cabrera said through an interpreter Saturday. “But I feel good now.”

Braves manager Brian Snitker said Friday that he didn’t know if Cabrera was healthy and that the big right-hander had reporter soreness in his elbow after his most recent appearance Monday against the Marlins, when he gave up a hit, two runs and two walks in two-thirds of an inning.

“He felt a little something in his elbow, so we’re being cautious with him right now,” said Snitker, who characterized Cabrera’s situation as “day to day” and said he hadn’t thrown in a few days.

Cabrera said, “I’m just going to wait a little bit. I don’t want to rush back and risk further injury, or worse injury. So I think we’re just going to wait a little bit to see if I feel a little better, then we’ll start the throwing program again.”

The 23-year-old had the second-highest average fastball velocity in the majors (100 mph) last season while posting a 2.82 ERA and six saves in 41 appearances, totaling 32 strikeouts with 19 walks and no homers allowed in 38 1/3 innings. He had a .225 opponents’ average and stingy .587 opponents’ OPS.

Expected to be a top setup man and backup closer this season, Cabrera began spring training by allowed four hits and three walks in five scoreless innings over his first five appearances through March 11. He struggled March 14 against the Phillies when he allowed one hit, two runs and two walks in one inning, and after a hitless inning with one walk in his next outing March 17 against the Astros, Cabrera was out of the strike zone repeatedly again Monday against the Marlins.

“After the last outing,” Cabrera said, “and not even right after I was done — it was kind of after I got out of the showers I started feeling some discomfort, just started noticing it. But no, I feel good now.”

In eight spring appearances he has a 4.70 ERA with six hits, four runs, eight walks and five strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings.

Asked if the elbow could’ve contributed to his erratic outing Monday, Cabrera said, “Not sure, to be honest. Maybe the first two batters it felt comfortable, everything felt normal. Then I kind of just wasn’t really able to locate how I wanted to, so I’m not sure what you can (attribute) that to. Then the counts kept going higher and higher and I had to throw more and more pitches.”