JUPITER, Fla. – A couple of Braves, catcher Tyler Flowers and third-base prospect Rio Ruiz, are nursing minor injuries and should be ready to play in a day or two.
Flowers hasn’t played in five games due to a mild hamstring strain. He hasn’t played since going 2-for-4 with a home run Saturday, which was his second game of the spring.
“(Friday) or Saturday,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said of his anticipated return date. “If not (Friday), then Saturday for sure. I just want to make sure. He’s got a little something in his hamstring and I don’t want to mess with it. Nothing major. He’s running – he did all his running yesterday and today — and hopefully we can get him in the lineup tomorrow or Saturday.”
The Braves play split-squad games Friday against the Cardinals in Jupiter and home against the Phillies at Champion Stadium. Flowers and catcher A.J. Pierzysnki would both play in the game against the Phillies.
Also expected in the lineup vs. Philadelphia: Braves right fielder Nick Markakis, who’s had two days off, and first Freddie Freeman, who was off Thursday.
Ruiz turned an ankle coming out of the batter’s box after hitting a single Wednesday against the Astros. Gonzalez said it was just a mild sprain and Ruiz wasn’t expected to miss more than a day or two.
