Braves' Martin Prado To Disabled List

This is quite a convoluted time line, best to just quote David O'Brien:

Braves standout Martin Prado landed on the 15-day disabled list Friday for a staph infection in his right calf.

The move came as a surprise to most, since the Braves had not mentioned it publicly after the infection was first discovered Tuesday when the team was in Florida.

The left fielder was cleared to play Tuesday night, then got hit in the left knee by a throw as he stole second base in the ninth inning.

Prado missed the past two games with what the Braves termed a contusion of the left knee, which was swollen when Prado awoke Wednesday. Prado said Thursday that he expected to return to the lineup Saturday or Sunday.

Neither the team nor Prado had said anything about the problem with his left calf, which apparently degenerated rapidly later Thursday. The Braves flew to Houston late Thursday after finishing a three-game series with the Marlins.

While Prado was in Atlanta being treated for the staph infection on Friday, the Braves were preparing for a four-game series against the Houston Astros that starts Friday.

This is a big blow to the Braves (duh!). Last year Atlanta was able to cover up some of these injuries with All-Star utility man Omar Infante. This year there doesn't seem to be anyone ready to step in and pick up the slack of two lineup regulars being on the disabled list (Prado and Jason Heyward). Add to that the lineup void that currently is Dan Uggla, and the Braves are playing with half an offense right now, not to mention Nate McLouth is also on the DL and not likely to return for at least another week.

This is the time when someone needs to step up <looks at second base>. The Braves struggles in the past week have been largely covered up by great pitching and playing a team that is struggling even worse than Atlanta (the Marlins). The Braves now head to Houston, and can hopefully take a few games from the Majors' worst team, though they'll have to do it with players who have spent more time on the Gwinnett Braves roster than the Atlanta Braves roster.

Brandon Hicks will be joining Atlanta from Gwinnett. He's shown pretty good power and patience at the plate lately, but I would imagine he'll be just another backup (on a team currently consisting of eight backups, and only four starters ... and the afore mention Dan Uggla).

After the Astros, the Braves play the Mets, Rangers, and Blue Jays on a nine game homestand. That could get pretty rough. Perhaps now is the time to make a trade for an outfielder, seeing as how the team's entire starting outfield is on the disabled list. Wow.