Ailing Braves make bevy of moves

Jul 28, 2008 - 8:53 PM ATLANTA (Ticker) -- The Atlanta Braves on Monday made several moves prior to opening a three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals.

A day after catcher Brian McCann was knocked out of Sunday's 12-10 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies in a home-plate collision with Shane Victorino, resulting in a mild concussion, the Braves announced their All-Star backstop would be day-to-day this week.

McCann is batting .302 with 20 home runs and 63 RBI this season.

As insurance, Atlanta activated catcher Jeff Bennett from the disabled list and recalled catcher Clint Sammons from Class AAA Richmond.

Also on Monday, the Braves placed All-Star third baseman Chipper Jones and righthander Tim Hudson on the 15-day disabled list.

Jones, who leads the major leagues with a .369 batting average, has not played since Wednesday with a strained left hamstring.

Hudson, who is 11-7 with a 3.14 ERA this season, left Wednesday's 6-4 victory over the Florida Marlins after tossing six shutout innings with tightness in his right elbow.

To replace Hudson, the Braves recalled righthander Charlie Morton from Richmond and he is expected to start Monday's game against the Cardinals.

Morton was optioned to Richmond on Saturday to make room on the active roster for lefthander Mike Hampton. Morton, who will be pitching Monday on five days' rest, traveled with the team back to Atlanta on Sunday night.

Morton is 2-3 with a 6.00 ERA in seven starts this season for Atlanta.

The Braves also optioned lefthander Jo-Jo Reyes to Richmond. Reyes is 3-9 with a 5.33 ERA in 16 appearances for Atlanta this season.