Clayton News Daily

Photo by Heather Middleton

The Associated Press

ATLANTA -- Jason Heyward was held out of the Atlanta Braves' starting lineup for the second straight game on Thursday night after an MRI exam showed no significant damage to the right fielder's sore right shoulder.

Braves general manager Frank Wren said the MRI revealed inflammation that was addressed with a shot in Heyward's shoulder late Thursday afternoon.

Wren said Heyward, who played high school baseball at Henry County, would be available in a limited basis, likely only as a pinch-runner, in Thursday night's game against Washington and could return to the lineup within a few days.

"Usually there's a couple days' recovery," Wren said, adding Heyward's shot was administered to his non-throwing shoulder, which should help his recovery.

Heyward left Tuesday's game with discomfort in his shoulder and numbness in his hand. The numbness was gone Thursday but he reported persistent soreness in the shoulder.

"Today it has been all the time," Heyward said. "It hasn't normally been that way, or sometimes it is, but today it's been all day, nagging."

He said he has had discomfort in the shoulder since spring training.

"Now we know what it is and hopefully we can knock it out," Wren said.

Eric Hinske filled in as the starting right fielder against the Nationals for the second straight game.

Heyward has slumped this month, going 2 for 28, and is hitting .220 overall with a team-leading seven homers and 14 RBIs.