Braves starter Jurrjens to follow up with knee specialist

ATLANTA -- Braves right-hander Jair Jurrjens said Thursday he plans to see a specialist after an MRI on his ailing right knee showed a bone bruise.

Jurrjens' lingering soreness is another cause for concern for the Braves, who lead the NL wild-card race but have reason to worry about the health of two key starters.

Right-hander Tommy Hanson has been on the disabled list since Aug. 7 with a sore right shoulder. An MRI last week showed a small tear in Hanson's right rotator cuff that won't require surgery.

Jurrjens spent two weeks on the DL last month with a right knee strain. He said the knee felt fine after he gave up six runs in a 9-2 loss to Washington on Tuesday night. He had the MRI on Wednesday.

He had surgery on the same knee in October to repair a torn meniscus and opened this season on the disabled list with a right oblique strain.

Jurrjens (13-6) is 1-3 with a 5.88 ERA in seven starts since the All-Star break.

He said Thursday he was trying to set up an appointment with orthopedic specialist Dr. Richard Steadman in Vail, Colo.

"It's been bothering me off and on," Jurrjens said. "Early in the season, I was able to go out and pitch. But in the second half, the soreness got a little stronger. I was not able to push off the way I'm supposed to. I want to try and get an answer."

Jurrjens' status for his scheduled start on Sunday against the Dodgers is uncertain.

"Right now we're going to see the doctor and we'll go from there," he said.

"I want to attack this soon so I can come back soon, like before. That's my goal: Take care of it as early as I can. ... I want to solve this problem."

Hanson has been cleared to begin rehabbing his shoulder. General manager Frank Wren said Hanson's MRI showed only normal wear and tear.

The Braves already have two rookies, Brandon Beachy and Mike Minor, in their rotation.

Manager Fredi Gonzalez has said the team plans to recall another rookie, either Julio Teheran or Randall Delgado, from Triple-A Gwinnett to start one game of a doubleheader at the Mets on Sept. 8.

If Jurrjens joins Hanson on the disabled list, Tim Hudson and Derek Lowe could be joined by three rookies in the rotation.

Also Thursday, the Braves recalled catcher J.C. Boscan and right-hander Anthony Varvaro from Triple-A Gwinnett.

Boscan had three hits in eight at-bats with Atlanta earlier this season. Varvaro had a 3.00 ERA in seven games.

Infielder Jack Wilson, acquired from Seattle on Wednesday night for a player to be named and cash, joined the team Thursday night. Wilson is on the 15-day disabled list with a bruised left heel and is eligible to be activated on Friday, one day earlier than the Braves reported on Wednesday.

Left-hander Dustin Richardson was designated for assignment to make room for Wilson.

Slumping left fielder Martin Prado, who hit only .219 in August, and first baseman Freddie Freeman were held out of Thursday night's starting lineup against Washington. Freeman has a sore right quadriceps muscle but says he is available to pinch-hit or play behind fill-in starter Eric Hinske.