Kurt Suzuki’s bruised right hand is feeling better, but he and the team will be cautious throughout the week.
The Braves catcher was hit by a pitch in the fourth inning Friday’s game against the Phillies. He exited at the top of the sixth.
Suzuki is still sore when swinging, but he’s available to play in an emergency. Tyler Flowers is already on the disabled list with a left strained oblique, so the Braves are playing it safe.
“He’s going to get better as we go,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “If he had to play, he could. Look ahead, just take it day-to-day and we’ll see how you feel. They’ll do all that treatment and everything again. Do some catching stuff and everything with (catching coach) Sal (Fasano).
Suzuki anticipated returning by Tuesday, but the recent addition of catcher Carlos Perez affords the team more patience.
Perez, 27, has slashed .224/.267/.332 in 548 career at-bats. While known more for defense than the bat, Perez did hit .352 with five homers and 40 RBIs in Triple-A last season.
“With Perez in here now to kind of help out, we’ll let him heal some more,” Snitker said. “I don’t think it should be that bad. He was bruised and we don’t want to bruise him again by trying to come back too early.”
Snitker hadn’t seen Perez play, but catching coach Sal Fasano worked with him with the Angels. Former first base coach Eddie Perez coached him in Venezuela, and text Snitker about him on Sunday.
“(I’ve heard) A lot of really good things,” Snitker said. “I don’t think it can ever hurt that you add to your catching depth.”
Suzuki may not return to the lineup until this weekend in Denver, depending on his reaction to treatment.
“We’ll just take it a day at a time,” Snitker said. “He might get through our rounds of treatment and come in tomorrow ready to go. If he can, great, Wednesday, great. If it’s Friday, it’s OK.”
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