Braves slugger Cipper Jones said he made "slight progress" since Monday, but still wasn't close to being ready to play.

The third baseman has missed four starts since reinjuring his right quadriceps muscle. Manager Bobby Cox said he didn't expect Jones to play until the interleague series that starts Friday in Toronto, where he would be the designated hitter.

Looking for an outfield boost

The Braves hope to have Mark Kotsay back from the disabled list next week and left fielder Matt Diaz back in a couple of more weeks.

Their unproductive outfield could use both of them as soon as possible, and the Braves are also checking into other possibilities as the July 31 trade deadline nears.

"It'll give us a little more pop," manager Bobby Cox said of getting back Kotsay and Diaz.

Before Tuesday, Braves outfielders were 10th in the National League in average (.262), 14th in homers (18), and 14th in slugging (.386).

Jeff Francoeur has struggled badly, hitting .233 with five homers in his past 66 games before Tuesday, and .206 in his past 27 games.

Kotsay has been out since May 26 with a bulging disk in his lower back. He hit .325 with 10 extra-base hits (three homers) and 18 RBIs in his last 33 games before going on the DL.

The veteran center fielder began a injury-rehab assignment Tuesday at Class AA Mississippi, and could be activated next week.

Diaz was cleared to begin running Tuesday, four weeks after he injured a ligament in his left knee. He could be back in 2-3 weeks.

Diaz hit only .250 with two homers and 14 RBIs in 42 games this season before he was hurt, but batted .330 with 19 homers in 655 at-bats as a Braves platoon player during the 2006-07 seasons.

"I know Kotsay and me aren't going to cure the outfield," Diaz said. "It's got to be a team thing. When Chipper [Jones] is down, other people have got to step up ... I can't wait to be a part of that. You forget how much you love baseball until you can't play."