There is not much Jason Heyward can do but wait for the swelling in his left thumb to go down enough that he can grip a bat. Until then, the Braves right fielder will remain out of the lineup.
Heyward missed Friday’s series-opening game against the Mets after being hit by a pitch Wednesday against the Nationals. Heyward, with his thumb wrapped and wearing a brace extending to his wrist, said the area is stiff and tough to bend.
“It’s a one-day-at-a-time thing because you don’t know when the swelling is going to go down,” Heyward said. “The tough thing about thumbs is once the swelling gets in there it takes a while for it to go down. Obviously, it doesn’t go well for our timeframe right now game-wise. I’m going to do everything I can. That’s it. I’m going to wait for it to respond to make sure I’m able to go out there and be productive.”
Heyward said the treatment is simply ice and heat and massage. He was to continue the process Friday night.
Neither manager Fredi Gonzalez nor Heyward would rule out a return to the lineup as soon as Saturday. Gonzalez said it’s possible that Heyward could be used as a defensive replacement late in games provided he is able to grip a baseball.
X-rays of Heyward’s thumb taken Wednesday were negative. He remains day-to-day.
“It is (frustrating), especially at this time (of the season),” Heyward said. “Not fun to sit down and watch. Again, all you can do is wait.”
Ryan Doumit started in right field in place of Heyward and batted sixth.
In other injury news, Andrelton Simmons was in the starting lineup despite a nagging left ankle injury. The shortstop also had to come out Wednesday’s game after he aggravated the ankle running to first base.
Simmons said he was “good” as he walked through the Braves locker room.
Gonzalez said Simmons’ injury is not the sprain that cost him games earlier the season but rather has likely been caused by over-compensating for that injury.
