Johnny

Estrada

Estrada was acquired for Kevin Millwood in the offseason. Through Richmond’s first nine games, he has 14 RBI and is second in the league in on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Estrada should be Atlanta’s starting catcher next season (Javy Lopez will be a free agent after the season), and will get a call up if anything happens to the Braves’ catchers.

Estrada is considered day-to-day.

Estrada also has four homers and 25 RBI for Richmond, and that’s with having spent 10 days in the majors. Estrada is probably ready for the majors now, but the Braves don’t have a place for him. He could be the starting catcher in 2004.

The injury wasn’t serious, but he won’t play tonight.

Not only will the man play through pain, he’s uncommonly consistent. His batting average and OPS in April were .323 and 888. In May, .333 and 885.

McCann had been acting as Smoltz’s personal catcher for more than a month, but it seems manager Bobby Cox tired of that arrangement. Now it looks like McCann will be playing more against righties and Estrada against lefties.

He’s been in pain ever since getting blindsided by Darin Erstad on June 6 and has recently received two cortisone shots to relieve the discomfort. It’s too painful for him to swing effectively from the left side right now, so you can expect Brian McCann to get starts against right-handers, and for Estrada and McCann to split time. However, Cox will probably not make the mistake of having Smoltz throw to Estrada again, after getting rocked last night and taking his first loss since, inronically, June 6. The same night Estrada was injured.

It’s probably a good idea for the Braves to try to get Estrada back to 100 percent. Brian McCann will act as the club’s starting catcher for at least the next two weeks. He should be picked up if he’s still unowned in your NL-only league.

His back is still sore, and manager Bobby Cox said he probably needs to catch a couple of rehab games in the minors once he’s ready to play.

Estrada left Monday’s game with an upset stomach. He should be back in the starting lineup on Wednesday.