After a checkup with the Braves orthopedist Sunday, shortstop Yunel Escobar avoided a trip to the disabled list and was penciled in for a return to the lineup in Monday's series opener at Florida.

He's missed six games since reinjuring the rotator cuff in his left shoulder making a tag during the Dodgers series in Los Angeles before the break.

Before meeting with Dr. Xavier Duralde on Sunday, Escobar had said his shoulder was better and he hoped to play at Florida. The Cuban lives in Miami and has hit .342 with three homers and seven RBIs in nine games this season against the Marlins.

"That's a very important [series] for me," he said through a translator. "If they make the decision to DL me, I understand. But I feel ready to hit and play defense."

If the Braves had DL'd him, he would have been eligible to return at the end of the week because the DL stint would have overlapped the All-Star break. But the checkup went well and he took batting practice indoors Sunday.

More injury updates

While the Braves begin a critical trip Monday, reliever Jeff Bennett will begin an injury-rehab assignment and outfielder Matt Diaz will resume one.

Bennett will begin a rehab stint with Class A Myrtle Beach. He hurt his pitching shoulder July 6 and on Saturday threw his first bullpen session since the incident, after receiving a cortisone injection.

Diaz had his rehab assignment on pause this week while working out with the team in Atlanta. Now, he'll go back to rehabbing his knee with Class AAA Richmond in hopes of joining the Braves late in the trip or when they return home.

He had hoped to be ready for the series against Florida, a team Diaz hits better against then he does any other. He has a .425 career average with seven homers and 21 RBIs in 36 games against the Marlins, including a .452 average with four homers and 11 RBIs in his last 11 against them.