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Braves try for series split without Smotlz

Jun 10, 2007 - 12:59 PM Chicago Cubs (27-33) at Atlanta (34-29), 8:05 pm EDT

ATLANTA (Ticker) - The Atlanta Braves ended a losing skid but will have to keep it up without pitching ace John Smoltz.

The Braves hope for a series split when they take on the Chicago Cubs on Sunday.

Atlanta defeated Chicago, 9-5, on Saturday, snapping a season-high four game losing streak. However the club announced that Smoltz, who was scheduled to go Sunday, would be pushed back to next Friday. The 40-year-old veteran injured his right shoulder against Milwaukee on May 29, and is being skipped over as a precautionary measure.

In his place will be Buddy Carlyle (1-1, 4.50 ERA) who was recalled from Class AAA Richmond. The 29-year-old righthander allowed a run and a hit in seven innings in a 3-1 victory over Florida on Tuesday. However, he was optioned to the minors after that contest because the Braves needed another arm for the bullpen.

Atlanta, which has just two wins in its last eight games, again faces Chicago, winners of three of four and five of seven.

The Cubs send Ted Lilly (4-4, 3.99) to the mound. Lilly has lost two straight and is winless in his last three starts. The lefthander, who has allowed at least five runs in each of his last three, was tagged for six and eight hits in a 7-5 loss to Milwaukee on Tuesday. Three of the hits the 31-year old surrendered were homers.

Left fielder Alfonso Soriano, who had four hits, including three homers in Friday's 9-1 victory, was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts on Saturday.