The Braves don’t yet have an estimated return date for starting pitcher Mike Minor or center fielder Melvin Upton, but it’s reasonable to assume neither will be ready for major league games before May.
Minor has not thrown in 2 ½ weeks with inflammation in the rotator cuff of his pitching shoulder. Manager Fredi Gonzalez said the left-hander was expected to begin throwing soon, but that it would initially be light throwing from about 60 feet, with a steady progression required to get him back to where he was before he was shut down.
Upton has been out nearly four weeks with sesamoiditis, or inflammation in a bone behind the ball of his left foot. He will likely be in a protective walking boot for another couple of weeks and then would have to re-strengthen his legs, work back up to playing condition and complete a minor league rehab assignment before he could rejoin the Braves.
Peterson update: Second baseman Jace Peterson was out of the lineup for a second consecutive game after having the fingernail removed from his right pinky, which got stepped on last week on a play at second.
Peterson drew a walk as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning, and Gonzalez said the hot-hitting rookie would be back in the lineup Tuesday against the Phillies. Before Monday he ranked fifth in the Grapefruit League with a .442 OBP.
The Braves are off Wednesday, their only scheduled day off during spring training.
