Two days after Brian McCann strained the adductor muscle near his right groin, the Braves All-Star catcher’s condition had improved significantly, manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday.
Gonzalez wouldn’t rule out McCann getting a couple of at-bats in Sunday’s regular-season finale against Philadelphia, if he feels up to it. McCann said after the injury that it wasn’t severe and that he would be ready to play in the division series opener Thursday, if not sooner.
McCann felt soreness while warming up pitcher David Hale before Thursday’s game, and left after the first inning. Gerald Laird caught the rest of that game and Saturday against the Phillies. Evan Gattis caught Friday’s game when Kris Medlen allowed only two hits in eight innings of a 1-0 win against the Phillies.
Walden update: Reliever Jordan Walden felt so good after a Friday bullpen session that the Braves used him in the seventh inning of Saturday's loss to the Phillies, his first appearance since Sept. 17. It didn't go particularly well, as the right-hander was charged with two runs (one earned), two hits, a wild pitch and an errant pickoff throw.
On a positive note, he struck out the last two of four batters he faced — his second run scored when Scott Downs gave up a single — and said he felt good, no problems with his recently sore shoulder or groin.
“Yeah, the last two strikeouts I kind of felt comfortable again,” Walden said. “I was trying to get my delivery, my arm slot back, trying to get everything back in rhythm…. The last two batters gave me some confidence. Just got to build off those last two batters.”
Gonzalez said the right-hander would likely throw another inning Tuesday either in the Florida instructional league or in simulated-game conditions in Atlanta. The Braves want to see him throw again to make sure he’s healthy before deciding whether he’ll be on the division-series roster.
“For the first time out in a while, I thought it was OK,” Gonzalez said of Saturday’s appearance. “We’ll check with his health tomorrow. I think he’s going to be OK.”
Walden has been slowed by injuries since mid-August. He has pitched just eight times since Aug. 7 and has an 9.00 ERA and .303 opponents’ average in eight innings in those games, allowing 10 hits including three homers.
Before the injuries, he posted a 1.04 ERA and .135 opponents’ average in 28 appearances beginning May 29, with 30 strikeouts, nine walks and one homer allowed in 26 innings.
Etc. Outfielder Reed Johnson felt good Saturday, a day after making his first start in two months following a case of Achilles tendinitis. The Braves are expected to have him on their playoff roster as a backup and pinch-hit specialist…. Braves hitters ranked third, fourth and fifth in the NL in strikeouts before Saturday with Dan Uggla (franchise-record 170), Justin Upton (158) and B.J. Upton (151).
