Chipper Jones is off to a fantastic start for the Atlanta Braves this season. If he keeps playing well and stays healthy he might just win the MVP award in the National League. Jones has played in 48 games this season for the Braves and he is 76 for 182 (.418 avg, 1.167 OPS) with 38 runs scored, 12 homers and 35 RBIs. Jones is also showing awesome plate discipline as he has walked 27 times this season while only whiffing 18 times. It will be interesting to see how long Jones keeps his average above .400 especially because he’s a switch hitter which means he has to maintain two different swings.

The Braves have placed outfielder Matt Diaz on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left knee. Diaz has played in 42 games this season for the Braves and he is 33 for 132 (.250 avg, .581 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 2 homers, 14 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Diaz will be replaced in left field by Greg Norton and Gregor Blanco. Norton has played in 17 games with the Braves this season and he is 3 for 21 (.143 avg, .543 OPS). He has played in 23 games combined with the Mariners & Braves and he is 10 for 37 (.270 avg) with 5 runs scored and 7 RBIs. Rookie Gregor Blanco is off to a good start to his major league career this season. He has played in 39 games for the Braves this season and he is 30 for 100 (.300 avg, .805 OPS) with 12 runs scored, 1 homer, 8 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Blanco has also been very selective at the plate so far as he has walked 20 times this season. You have to feel a tad bad for Matt Diaz as this was his big chance to establish himself as more than a platoon player.

The Braves have designated righty reliever Chris Resop for assignment. He pitched in 18 games (0 starts) for the Braves this season and he is 0-1 with a 5.89 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. The Braves have activated righty reliever Buddy Carlyle to take over Resop’s spot in the bullpen. He has pitched in 9 games (0 starts) this season for the Braves and he is 0-0 with a 3.38 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP.

The Braves have activated catcher Brayan Pena from the D.L. and then they designated him for assignment. Pena played in 14 games for the Braves this season and he was 4 for 14 (.286 avg, .690 OPS) with 3 runs scored. The Braves should try to trade him because he likely won’t make it through waivers. Pena has played in 71 games in his major league career and he is 29 for 127 (.228 avg, .567 OPS) with 16 runs scored, 2 homers and 12 RBIs.

The Braves were grasping at straws to fill the pitching staff due to a rash of injuries to important pitchers. Jorge Campillo has stepped up big time for the Braves when they really needed him the most. He has pitched in 14 games (1 start) for the Braves this season and he is 1-0 with a 0.99 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP. He will be moving into the starting rotation to fill in for injuries but he might get to keep a starting job if he continues to throw the ball well.

The Braves have placed righty reliever Buddy Carlyle on the 15-day disabled list with a strained neck. Carlyle has pitched in 9 games (0 starts) this season for the Braves and he is 0-0 with a 3.38 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP. He has been replaced on the roster by lefty starter Chuck James. James appears to still be hurting as he hasn’t pitched too well this season. James has started 4 games for the Braves so far this season and he is 2-2 with a 7.58 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP. He has allowed an amazing 4 homers and he has also walked 11 batters in only 19 innings for the Braves.

The Braves’ #2 prospect in their minor league system according to Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook is 18-year old lefty swinging outfielder Jason Heyward and he’s off to a good start in the minors. Heyward has played in 32 games so far this season in A-Ball and he is 38 for 123 (.209 avg, .779 OPS) with 24 runs scored, 3 homers, 16 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. Heyward is just the latest star that the Braves have drafted from their own state (Georgia) which they scout quite extensively. The Braves might put Heyward on the fast track as LF appears to be an open job in the near future.

Jeff Bennett has done a little starting when the Braves needed him to and he has also worked out of the bullpen this year. With the sudden rash of injuries to the pitching staff, Bennett has stepped up and helped the Braves stay afloat in the National League East. He has pitched in 12 games (3 starts) for the Braves so far this season and he is 0-1 with a 3.95 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Bennett has walked too many hitters (14 in 27.1 innings) but the Braves can live with that as long as misses enough bats.

The Braves have acquired 35-year old switch hitter Greg Norton from the Mariners. Norton was off to a hot start for the Mariners as he played in 6 games for them and he was 7 for 16 (.438 avg, 1.063 OPS) with 2 runs scored and 4 RBIs. Norton has now played in 901 games in his major league career and he is 547 for 2,163 (.253 avg, .764 OPS) with 285 runs scored, 82 homers and 300 RBIs. The Braves will trade either a player to be named later or a wad of cash for Norton. Norton will make a fine addition to the Braves bench as he is a solid hitter.

The Braves have placed infielder Martin Prado on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained left thumb that could cause him to miss 6-8 weeks. Prado was off to a good start for the Braves so this is a shame for him. Prado has played in 18 games for the Braves this season and he is 11 for 39 (.282 avg, .845 OPS) with 10 runs scored, 6 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Prado’s injury will open the door for Ruben Gotay who should get more playing time while he is out. Gotay has played in 21 games for the Braves so far this season and he is 5 for 20 (.250 avg, .675 OPS) with 2 runs scored. Gotay will likely do a solid job for the Braves while Prado is out.