PHOENIX — Reliever Jordan Walden could come off the disabled list and rejoin the Braves in Colorado for the four-game series that starts Monday, provided his second relief appearance with Triple-A Gwinnett goes without incident.
Walden, who’s been on the disabled list for a month recovering from a strained hamstring, and struck out the first three batters he faced in his first rehab-assignment game Thursday for Gwinnett. The third of those strikeout victims reached base on a third-strike wild pitch, and the next batter, former Brave Eliot Johnson, hit a two-run homer.
Walden was replaced after throwing 23 pitches and recording three strikeouts in two-thirds of an inning, in one of the odder pitching lines we’ve seen this year. He’s scheduled to make his second rehab appearance Saturday, manager Fredi Gonzalez said.
“(Thursday) was a good outing,” Gonzalez said. “Report was good, his leg’s good. He’ll throw another one and if everything goes well and he doesn’t need another (rehab game) he can join us in Colorado.”
