Read More: Tim Hudson (P – ATL), Jair Jurrjens (P – ATL), Tommy Hanson (P – ATL), Atlanta Braves

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Tim Hudson underwent successful surgery on Monday to repair a herniated disk in his back. While his recovery and progression will be closely monitored throughout the rest of the offseason, the team expects Hudson to be ready for the start of Spring Training.

From the official release out of Atlanta:

Atlanta Braves right-handed pitcher Tim Hudson underwent successful surgery today to repair a herniated disc in his back. The procedure was performed by Dr. Steven Wray at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta, Ga. The injury, which had been bothersome for Hudson over the last two seasons, became progressively worse during his off-season workouts.

Hudson missed a start in May because of a back issue and this would appear to be the reason why. Anyone who has ever dealt with a back issue can tell you the injury has a knack for lingering and not responding to treatment, and it is a minor miracle Hudson made it through the entire season without hitting the disabled list.

The Braves starting rotation continues to be dinged up and it may convince Frank Wren to hold onto his pitchers this offseason. With the uncertainty of Tommy Hanson’s shoulder, Jair Jurrjens’ knee and Hudson’s back, Atlanta hasn’t exactly had a clean bill of health in the last year.

NEW YORK (AP)—Atlanta Braves pitcher Tommy Hanson(notes) has a slight tear in his
right rotator cuff that does not need surgery, and the team is hoping he can
return in the next few weeks.

Hanson has been on the disabled list since Aug. 7 because of soreness in his
shoulder. He had an MRI exam Friday and the Braves said it showed a small tear
that is common with pitchers.

The Braves said Hanson will continue with his rehabilitation and consult
with Dr. James Andrews on Monday.

Hanson is 11-7 with a 3.60 ERA in 22 starts.

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Tommy Hanson(notes) has won 11 games this season and the team is hopeful he can win a few more once he fully recovers from the rotator cuff tendinitis that put him on the DL on Aug. 7.

Hanson took some first steps toward that Monday when he threw nine pitches in the bullpen at Wrigley Field before his team blanked the Chicago Cubs 3-0, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The paper notes that Hanson said his shoulder “felt fine” after the session.

The Braves have Hanson scheduled to make a start on Saturday at Triple-A Gwinnett, according to the Journal-Constitution.

“He played a little catch, then just a little touch-and-feel [session on the mound],” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said, the paper notes. “And now he’ll throw a side session [Tuesday].”

Let the rumors come to you. Follow Scoop du Jour on Twitter or Facebook.

Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Related: Tommy Hanson, Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs

Read More: Tommy Hanson (P – ATL), Washington Nationals, Atlanta Braves

Tonight just wasn’t the Atlanta Braves night. The bounces wouldn’t go their way, multiple bad calls were made by the umpires and Tommy Hanson struggled to keep the ball in the park.

Hanson worked 5.1 innings and surrendered eight hits, two walks and five runs. He had a quick first inning, but the wheels fell off soon after that. He probably should have been lifted after his fifth inning of work, but Fredi Gonzalez decided to keep him in the game. John Lannan continued to fool the Braves hitters at the plate and allowed just two runs on five hits and four walks over 5.2 innings. Ryan Mattheus, Tyler Clippard and Drew Storen combined to work the final 3.1 innings and didn’t allow a baserunner to reach.

Wilson Ramos started his big night in the second inning with an RBI-ground-rule double to give the Nats a 1-0 lead. John Lannan hit a seeing-eye single up the middle to bring in two more. Alex Gonzalez countered in the bottom half of the second with a 2-run homer to left field to cut the deficit to one. Unfortunately for Atlanta, they were unable to cash in one multiple opportunities with runners in scoring position and would not score again after Gonzo’s blast.

Ramos delivered the knockout punch in the sixth inning with a monster 2-run homer that drove both he and Rick Ankiel. George Sherrill, Cory Gearrin, Eric O’Flaherty and Scott Proctor combined to work the final 3.2 innings and allowed just one hit and two walks.

The Phillies lost to the Mets, so Atlanta remains 3.5 games back in the NL East. They’ll go for the series victory Sunday afternoon as they turn to Jair Jurrjens. He’ll be opposed by Tom Gorzellany. First pitch will be at 1:35.

It’s been a big month for Atlanta Braves rookie closer Craig Kimbrell. Just days after setting the Major League record for first half saves by a rookie, Kimbrell learned he would be heading to the All-Star Game.

Kimbrell was added to the roster on Sunday night, replacing San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Cain, who is ineligible to play after pitching on Sunday. He is the fifth member of the Atlanta Braves to earn an All-Star invite, joining starter Brian McCann and back-ups Chipper Jones, Jair Jurrjens and Johnny Venters.

Kimbrell set the MLB first half record for saves by a rookie with 28, breaking Jonathan Papelbon’s previous record. He hasn’t allowed a run in 14 straight appearances, going 10-for-10 in save opportunities during that span.

He leads all Major League relievers with 70 strikeouts. Kimbrell beat out teammate Tommy Hanson, who was also hoping for a late invite to Tuesday’s All-Star game in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Atlanta Braves have a message for the Philadelphia Phillies: They’re not going to let them run away with the NL East.

Alex Gonzalez hit the go-ahead RBI single and Brian McCann added a two-run homer in the 11th inning to lift the Braves to a 4-1 victory over the Phillies on Saturday. It was the second straight extra-inning game for the teams, following Philadelphia’s 3-2 victory in 10 innings Friday.

“We have to keep close to these guys,” said Gonzalez after the Braves pulled within 2½ games of the Phillies. “Both teams have great teams. We’re still fighting and we want to keep it close.”

The Braves (54-37) have won 10 of 12. Philadelphia (56-34) remains one win shy of tying the club record for wins in the first half.

“It’s basically the same game as (Friday) night,” Braves Manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “Our bullpen held today and we win. The teams are so evenly matched. Runs are hard to come by. Starting pitching has been outstanding both games. You’re going to get games like this.”

Philadelphia starter Cliff Lee accounted for the Phillies’ only run with his first career homer off Tommy Hanson, but both pitchers were gone by the time this one ended.

Pinch-hitter Eric Hinske led off the 11th for the Braves with a walk off Michael Stutes (3-1), and pinch-runner Wilkin Ramirez went to second on Jordan Schafer’s sacrifice. First baseman Ryan Howard could have gotten the second out, but he failed to make a tough over-the-shoulder catch of Gonzalez’s foul pop fly. It was ruled “no play,” and two pitches later, Gonzalez lined a single to center, scoring Ramirez and putting the Braves ahead 2-1.

“He usually catches that ball most of the time,” Phillies Manager Charlie Manuel said.

Added Howard: “It kind of slipped through my glove. I thought I had it and I should’ve made the play, but you can’t do anything about it now.”

McCann followed by launching Stutes’ 1-2 pitch into the seats in right.

“I was getting my pitches up and I paid for it,” Stutes said.

George Sherrill (2-1) worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the 10th to earn the victory, allowing two hits and striking out one. Craig Kimbrel pitched a scoreless 11th for his 28th save in 33 chances.

“It’s big. We want to come in here and win the series and that’s what we try to do with everybody,” Hanson said. “Playing in a tough place against a really good team, it’s good to even the series and have a chance to win it tomorrow. … It’s a huge series and I think everybody knows that.”

Neither Lee nor Hanson earned a decision, although both were worthy of a win. Lee pitched eight innings, allowing three hits and striking out nine while walking two. Lee had won each of his last six home starts and now stands at 7-1 at home while lowering his ERA to 1.61 at Citizens Bank Park this season.

After having his 34-inning scoreless streak snapped in his last start at Toronto, when he gave up seven runs — six earned — in 7 1-3 innings, Lee was back to being the pitcher who went 5-0 with a 0.21 ERA in June. His only blemish Saturday was Dan Uggla’s homer on the first pitch of the fifth inning. Other than that, Lee allowed just one baserunner to reach second.

“We know it’s a good series,” Lee said. “They’ve been playing well and are right behind us. They have an unbelievable bullpen and starting pitching and it showed the last couple of days.”

Hanson was equally dominant, scattering four hits while striking out six and walking one. Aside from Lee’s third-inning solo homer, the only Phillies batter to advance to second was John Mayberry Jr., who doubled in the sixth. The right-hander was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning after tossing seven innings, and the no-decision snapped Hanson’s career-high streak of five straight wins.

“Going up against a pitcher like (Lee), you always want to go up against the best and see what you’ve got against the best,” Hanson said. “Besides the ball he hit out, I felt like I did a pretty good job.”

Lee homered on a 3-2 count, on the 10th pitch he saw, into the first row in right-center to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead in the third. He pumped his fist slightly while rounding first once the ball cleared the fence. Lee, who entered 8 for 39 (.205), was given a curtain call by the crowd of 45,637, the Phillies’ 171st straight sellout.

“He put a good swing on it,” Hanson said. “Nothing you can do, just tip the hat and he got me.”

Added Lee: “Anytime you do anything to help the team in a positive way, you definitely feel good. It was a first for me in my career and hopefully I get an opportunity to do something like that again.”

After Lee had retired 11 straight, Uggla tied it at 1 by belting Lee’s first pitch of the fifth inning to deep left field.

Philadelphia reliever Antonio Bastardo pitched a scoreless ninth, extending his scoreless streak to 15 innings. The left-hander has allowed just one hit in 45 at-bats during the stretch.

Bastardo struck out Uggla to end the ninth, and the Braves’ second baseman dropped his bat, argued with plate umpire Mike Everitt before tossing his helmet toward the dugout in frustration. Fredi Gonzalez came out to argue, as well, although neither was tossed.

The Phillies loaded the bases in the 10th off Sherrill, but the left-hander got Mayberry to ground out to first to end the frame.

“Our pitching is right there,” McCann said. “You’ve seen the last two nights. We’re going to hang in there until the end. Our guys are coming in and putting zeros out of the bullpen on a nightly basis. Our pitchers are matching them pitch for pitch. It’s been fun to be a part of.”

Chipper out: Braves All-Star third baseman Chipper Jones was placed on the disabled list before the game with a torn meniscus in his right knee. Jones had a procedure Saturday in Atlanta and likely will miss 2-3 weeks.