The Braves were leaning toward activating closer Rafael Soriano from the disabled list Monday for the series finale against Arizona, and could add John Smoltz to the bullpen during the six-game road trip that starts Tuesday in Milwaukee.

Smoltz will accompany the Braves on the trip to Milwaukee and Cincinnati, but it was undetermined Sunday if the veteran pitcher would be activated from the DL without another minor league rehab appearance.

AP (ENLARGE)

Braves veteran John Smoltz pitched one inning Saturday for Class AA Mississippi. He allowed one hit and threw eight strikes in 12 pitches.

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He's been sidelined 3-1/2 weeks with inflammation of the rotator cuff and biceps tendon in his pitching shoulder, and pitched one inning for Class AA Mississippi Saturday in his first game appearance since going on the DL.

The former All-Star closer is going to move to the bullpen when he returns, because he doesn't believe his shoulder will withstand the rigors of pitching five or six innings as a starter without more trips to the DL.

Smoltz had what manager Bobby Cox called "normal" day-after shoulder stiffness Sunday. Smoltz declined to speak to reporters and said through a team spokesman that his shoulder was fine and that he was a "little under the weather."

He was scheduled to throw a side session in the bullpen Monday.

Soriano has been sidelined since the second week of the season with elbow tendinitis. He made two rehab appearances last week for Mississippi.

Attractive matchup

Monday's pitching matchup between Braves rookie Jair Jurrjens (5-3, 2.64 ERA) and Arizona's Brandon Webb (9-1, 2.69 ERA) features two pitchers ranked among the National League's top six in ERA and opponents' batting average, and two of four NL starters who've limited opponents to sub-.300 slugging.

Jurrjens is 4-0 with a 1.48 ERA in five home starts this season, and Webb, the 2007 NL Cy Young Award winner, has allowed just six hits in 18 innings while throwing complete-game shutouts in both of his past two starts against Atlanta.

Etc.

Cox said it's too early to know if Jorge Campillo's finger blisters will keep him from his next scheduled start Thursday at Milwaukee. If he isn't ready, Cox mentioned Class AAA Richmond prospect Charlie Morton and reliever Jeff Bennett as options. ... Brian McCann and Kelly Johnson extended double-digit hitting streaks. McCann has a 12-game streak and a .423 average in May with 11 doubles, three homers and 19 RBIs in 19 games. Johnson has an 11-game hitting streak and a .397 average in his past 18 games .... Matt Diaz is 8-for-50 (.160) with no extra-base hits and two RBIs in his past 20 games.