Mo Vaughn was placed on the DL Monday retroactive to April 6th after being hit in the hand by a LHP Jimmy Anderson pitch on Thursday. 1B-L Vaughn suffered a non-displaced fracture to the 5th metacarpal on his right hand, which is the bone below his pinky finger.

He should be able to return to the team when he is eligible to come off the DL on April 21st and probably could have avoided the trip altogether, but the team reportedly did not want to risk the chance that he could be hit again and seriously hurt. The time on the disabled list should allow the fracture to heal so that a second impact won't cause damage that likely would require him to miss significantly more time. He plans to wear padding beneath his batting gloves to protect the hand when he returns.

1B-L Mark Johnson appears to have assumed the majority of the first base playing time during Vaughn's absence, though IF-R John Valentin also should see several at-bats at the position over the next two weeks. The Mets did not call up non-prospect 1B-R Jorge Toca, instead the club added OF-L Timo Perez to the roster in place of Vaughn. Considering New York is taking the time to allow Vaughn's injury to heal, I don't think there will be many lingering effects once he returns to the team.

RHP Greg Maddux is expected to return from the DL on Friday. He missed his Opening Day start and was placed on the disabled list last Friday retroactive to March 26th because of what was originally thought to be a strained muscle in his buttocks. An MRI later revealed that nerves in his lower back were inflamed in three areas surrounding a vertebra and the facet joints in his right hip and buttocks.

The 35-year-old took a cortisone shot a week ago and two more on Saturday. He threw for 20 minutes on both Thursday and Monday and expects to take ground balls on Wednesday in preparation for his Friday start. Maddux reportedly originally thought he might avoid the DL and start Sunday before aggravating the injury fielding a grounder during batting practice on Friday. Pitching should not be a problem, though swinging a bat and running could possibly irritate the injury.

RHP Albie Lopez, who was expected to start today, has also gone on the DL. Lopez strained his right groin, and while the injury is not overly serious, the Braves do not want to risk the chance that he could make the problem worse and miss additional time. With Maddux still out for a few days, Atlanta also needed the roster flexibility to be able to call up a spot starter. Lopez suffered a similar injury last season and only missed one start.

John Ennis has been called up to start today. This start will be the major league debut of the 22-year-old RHP, who hadn't pitched above A+ until this year. He's an extremely promising young starter with great dominance and command, but he needs more time in the upper levels of the minors. Ennis likely will be returned to AA when Maddux comes off the DL on Friday.

LHP Damian Moss will continue to serve as the Braves' fifth starter until their whole rotation is healthy. RHP Kevin Gryboski was called up on Tuesday to help in the bullpen. He finished several games during Spring Training and even has a chance to pick up a few saves.

Atlanta completed a small trade with the Rangers on Tuesday, sending LHP Ben Kozlowski to the Rangers for LHP Andy Pratt. Kozlowski is a promising 21-year-old lefty starter. He spent the majority of last season at A Macon except for two late season starts at A+ Myrtle Beach and will return to Myrtle Beach to begin this season. Texas assigned him to Charlotte, their A+ team in the Florida State League.

The 22-year-old Pratt is also a lefty starter. He doesn't appear to have quite the upside of Kozlowski but has pitched in AA. The Rangers had designated Pratt for assignment because the club needed to clear room on their 40-man roster.

Atlanta has not yet received a PTBNL from the Rangers for LHP Rich Rodriguez, who is now on the 60-day DL with circulatory problems in the index finger on his left hand. He is expected to have surgery on the finger tomorrow and should be able to return around the time he is eligible to come off the disabled list in June.

RHP Chan Ho Park, who is the pitcher responsible for placing UT-R Randy Velarde of Oakland on the DL with a broken hand, is on the DL with a strained hamstring. The injury does not appear to be overly serious, but the Rangers did not want him to have a chance to aggravate the injury, thereby causing him to miss additional time. He should be able to start when he is eligible to come off the disabled list on April 17th.