Braves place Beachy on DL, make plans for Jurrjens

ATLANTA – The Atlanta Braves placed Brandon Beachy on the 15-day disabled list on Sunday with a sore right elbow, creating an opening in the rotation that will be filled by Jair Jurrjens.

The team recalled Todd Redmond from Triple-A Gwinnett to pitch out of the bullpen.

Beachy, who leads the major leagues with his 2.00 ERA, will have a MRI on Monday. Beachy left Saturday night's game against Baltimore in the fourth inning. He had seven days' rest before making the start.

Beachy said Sunday he has had bone spurs in the elbow. He said he didn't feel a pop in the elbow, so he hopes the soreness was caused by the spurs instead of a ligament issue which could lead to season-ending surgery.

"I'm hoping it's bone spurs still," Beachy said. "It's time to find out for sure, so that's what we're going to do."

Gonzalez said "I don't expect the worst" from Beachy's MRI.

"I expect in 15 days he'll be ready to go," Gonzalez said. "There are plenty of pitchers who have pitched with (bone spurs). That will settle down a little bit."

Jurrjens will be recalled from Gwinnett to make Beachy's next scheduled start on Friday at Boston.

Jurrjens, who was named to the 2011 All-Star team, had been one of the Braves' top starting pitchers before he struggled with right knee problems in the second half of last season. He said he was healthy this year but he was 0-2 with a 9.37 ERA when he was optioned to Gwinnett on April 24. He is 3-4 with a 5.27 ERA in nine starts with Gwinnett.

Other option for the Braves included Kris Medlen, who was recalled on Friday, and top prospect Julio Teheran, who was recalled for one start on June 10.

"Medlen may go into the rotation sometime this summer, but we feel like we're better with him in the bullpen now," Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said Teheran had "a little stiffness in his back" after Saturday's start with Gwinnett.

Gonzalez said Jurrjens deserved the chance to return to Atlanta.

"He's made some progress. We're going to give him a shot," Gonzalez said. "We feel like he's done it before. He's been an All-Star. ... He's done everything we've asked down there."

Gonzalez said Jurrjens, who was 13-6 with a 2.96 ERA in 2011, will make at least two or three starts but could earn a longer stay.

The 27-year-old Redmond was 6-4 with a 3.20 in 13 starts for Gwinnett. This is his first promotion to the major leagues.

Meanwhile, first baseman Freddie Freeman is missing his fourth straight start but said his sore left hand has improved "a lot." He has been unable to properly grip the bat due to a swollen knuckle on his left index finger.

Martin Prado is making his second start of the season at first base.

Third baseman Chipper Jones, who was held out with swelling in his left knee on Saturday night, is starting. Left-hander Eric O'Flaherty, who has had a sore elbow, is again available in the bullpen.