Braves right fielder Jason Heyward remained out with a left thumb injury on Saturday and may not play until Monday against the Pirates.
Heyward left Wednesday’s game against the Nationals after he was hit by a pitch and has missed the past two games. X-rays taken after the game Wednesday were negative for a fracture and Heyward is listed as day-to-day.
“(There’s) a little bit of an improvement,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. “I think we are shooting for Monday but not leaving tomorrow out of the question. It’s (about) how he reacts to treatment today.”
Heyward was in the clubhouse Saturday wearing a brace to protect the thumb. His treatment regimen includes ice, heat and massage.
“It’s hard to play the game without thumbs,” Gonzalez said. “You can get away with it in other sports, but not in baseball with throwing and swinging the bat.”
