As much as the Braves hoped to avoid it, they put center fielder Nate McLouth on the 15-day disabled list Monday with a strained left oblique, meaning they'll open the Pirates series Tuesday night without two-thirds of their starting outfield.
The Braves put Jason Heyward on the disabled list Sunday with lingering right shoulder soreness.
With an off day Monday amid their three-city trip, the Braves held out slight hope that McLouth would have improvement overnight, but he didn't. They recalled center fielder Jordan Schafer from Triple-A Gwinnett, and he'll join the team in Pittsburgh.
McLouth injured himself four pitches into Sunday's game against the Angels in Anaheim, checking his swing on a pitch in the dirt. He immediately doubled over in pain. After a few minutes, he tried a few swings to see if he could continue but was in too much pain.
Schafer will return to the major leagues for the first time since 2009 when wrist injuries derailed the promising trajectory of the Braves’ former top-rated prospect.
Schafer won the opening-day center fielder’s job that year and homered twice in his first three major league games. But he injured his left wrist swinging in the fourth game that season, tried to play through it and hit only .204 with 63 strikeouts in 167 at-bats. He underwent surgery that September.
Schafer was hitting .256 (42-for-164) with one home run and 21 RBIs in 42 games for Gwinnett. He traveled from Allentown, Pa., where Gwinnett was playing Lehigh Valley on Monday night.
Heyward had some improvement in his shoulder after receiving two cortisone shots and sitting out six games. But three games after returning, he re-aggravated the shoulder during batting practice.
Heyward returned to Atlanta on Monday for further evaluation and rehabilitation.
Lugo signing
The Braves signed shortstop Julio Lugo to a minor-league deal on Monday, adding some veteran depth to the middle infield. Lugo will work his way back into shape at the Braves complex in Orlando before reporting to Triple-A Gwinnett.
Lugo, 35, was originally drafted by the Astros and played the first four of his 11 major league seasons in Houston. The career .270-hitter played his last full season with an every-day job for the Boston Red Sox in 2007. He hit .249 with no homers and 20 RBIs in 93 games last season for Baltimore. He plays primarily shortstop and second base.
Beachy update
Braves right-hander Brandon Beachy expects to begin playing light catch in the next few days as he continues his rehabilitation from a strained left oblique. He hasn't picked up a ball since May 13 when he was injured in a start against the Phillies.
Beachy is working out with Braves physical therapist Troy Jones at the Braves complex in Orlando while the Braves are on the road. The Braves aren't counting on his return until next month at the earliest, and he's doing his best not to rush it.
“Each day has been better than the last,” said Beachy, who said Monday his oblique felt really good. “But I’m trying not to rush my recovery and re-injure it.”
