Atlanta Braves Place Kelly Johnson On DL With Oblique Strain

The Atlanta Braves have placed outfielder Kelly Johnson on the 15-day DL with a right oblique strain.  He suffered this injury in the 1st inning of Wednesday evening’s game.

“It was an oblique and we are going to DL him,” Fredi Gonzalez told the media after the game.  “It’s one of those things that we don’t mess with.  The oblique will linger and Todd Cunningham will meet us in Miami.”

As we saw on Fox Sports South’s broadcast, Johnson looked in pain after his first swing in the 1st inning.  He continued with the at-bat, but after his second swing Gonzalez knew something was wrong.

“The first one I couldn’t tell, I thought it may be his back, but the second swing you could tell it was a classic oblique strain swing by right where he grabbed it,” Gonzalez said.  “Knowing Kelly, he tried to talk us out of it and have one more swing, but I said let’s not even try to make it worse than it is.  At that point, we removed him from the game.”

Johnson has been a great surprise at the plate for the Braves this season.  He is currently hitting .259/.310/.519 with six home runs and 18 RBIs.  The 33-year-old has filled in nicely to the left field position and has batted fourth in the Braves lineup during recent games.

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“He’s been a guy that can hit behind

against right-handers and he at least gave the opposing manager some thought about putting Freeman on or pitching around him,” Gonzalez said.  “We will figure out who will hit behind Freeman to give him a little protection.”

This is where it could get difficult for Gonzalez.  Who will primarily play left field and better yet, who will bat fourth for the Braves?

Options…

Jonny Gomes would probably get the first look since he can fill in both spots, but he’s been more productive coming off the bench and is only hitting .203 for the season.

Eric Young Jr. gets more looks in left field and continue to play Cameron Maybin in center.  Neither of these guys will fill into the cleanup spots in the order.

Cunningham gets a look in the outfield, but like Young and/or Maybin, he won’t be able to protect Freeman.

A.J. Pierzynski moves to the cleanup position.

Right now, these are the only options I see…what do yal think?