After being limited to just a pinch-hit opportunity in the last week, the Braves have put third baseman Chipper Jones on the disabled list with a left leg contusion following Friday night's 7-4 loss to the Nationals.
"It's not getting better and we are starting to play a little bit short-handed," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Chris Vivlamore. "It's not fair for him and it's not fair for the team."
Gonzalez noted Jones could be gone for even longer than the 15-day period. The move is retroactive to Wednesday, when Jones pinch-hit. His last start was May 18, when he was hit by a one-hopper off the bat of the Rays' B.J. Upton.
In addition to Jones' bruised leg, catcher Brian McCann missed his fourth straight start with flu-like symptoms on Friday, but was forced into action when David Ross suffered a right groin strain in the second inning. The team is expected to call up catcher J.C. Boscan to replace Jones on the roster and help the team's catching depth.
First baseman Freddie Freeman was back on the field Friday, but he has been suffering from dry eyes and spent Friday getting new contacts as well as a pair of prescription glasses.
"I'm seeing two balls and I'm just getting even when I'm hitting," Freeman told the AJC on Friday. "It got to the point where I couldn't do it anymore."
He went 0 for 5 in his return to the lineup on Friday.
