Jair Jurrjens left today's game against the Blue Jays after one inning due to a discomfort in his right side, and was removed as a precaution. Jurrjens set down the top three in the Jays order in the first on two groundouts and a strikeout of Jose Bautista, throwing 12 pitches and seven strikes.
Jurrjens is quickly making a name for himself as an injury scare. He missed a large amount of time last season due to a hamstring injury, and a knee injury sidelined him late in the season and during the playoffs. It was thought he had gained better durability after losing weight and gaining muscle over the winter, but a side issue puts a chink in that one already. Hopefully it's nothing serious. He downplayed it by saying it's nothing more than a cramp and not oblique.
Even so, the Braves are prepared for such situations, as Mike Minor will be waiting in AAA. Today could be the moment of truth for several fringe players, such as Ed Lucas, Matt Young and Cristhian Martinez, as the Braves will announce a few cuts after the game. Frank Wren officially announced Minor to AAA and Brandon Beachy in the rotation.
For what it's worth, Young is 1-3 so far with a single, groundout and reached on error. Lucas is 0-2 with a strikeout and pop out.
Scott Proctor continued his rollercoaster spring with three hits allowed, including a home run to Bautista, and an error committed. I can't help but feel he does not need to be on this team.
Dan Uggla put the Braves ahead in the sixth with a three-run home run off Brett Cecil. That was preceded by RBI singles from Jason Heyward and Brandon Hicks.