Jason Heyward said his right hamstring was feeling better Friday, a good indication that he avoided the worst when he injured it running the bases Thursday night. Heyward is considered day-to-day but the Braves plan to rest him through the weekend series against the Reds, giving him a full week’s rest coming out of the All-Star break.
“If we could just keep improving every single day and just get him through the weekend, I think we’ll be in good shape when we come out from the All-Star break,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said.
Reed Johnson took Heyward’s spot in right field on Friday night and is expected to play throughout the weekend. Gonzalez said if need be, he could use Tyler Pastornicky or recent call-up Joey Terdoslavich in the outfield.
Heyward felt his hamstring grab in the second inning Thursday night, a step or two shy of third base after advancing from first base on a Justin Upton single. He spent Friday afternoon alternating between ice and treatment on his hamstring.
“I feel better today than I did last night,” Heyward said Friday afternoon. “More flexibility in my hamstring, less pain, not as uncomfortable but there still is pain. It’s still really sore.”
Heyward didn’t completely want to rule out playing this series but realizes it’s probably the smarter choice.
“If I feel great tomorrow then we’ll see about (Sunday) but right now the best thing to do is be cautious, knowing that there are four days coming up off with the All-Star break,” Heyward said. “It would be good to get this time to rest and come back and not worry about further hurting myself (by) coming back too soon.”
Heyward was heating up at the plate, hitting .290 (42-for-145) with five home runs, 13 RBIs and 15 multi-hit games in his past 36 games since June 3. He had hit .153 (17-for-111) with three home runs and 10 RBIs in his first 32 games, in and around the month he missed after undergoing an emergency appendectomy.
