Maddux To Miss, Seanez Out?

Sixteen-game winner Greg Maddux will miss his next start for the Atlanta Braves after fluid was discovered in his injured wrist, while reliever Rudy Seanez could be out for the season with a stress fracture in his elbow.

Maddux, who chipped a bone in his wrist last weekend while diving for a foul pop-up, said he would skip Friday night's game at St. Louis to give his injured wrist more time to heal. Terry Mulholland will start in his place.

"I thought I could pitch," said Maddux, 16-6 and a four-time Cy Young winner. "I played catch (Tuesday) and it was pretty sore an hour later."

Team doctors advised Maddux to miss his next start after discovering fluid in the injured area.

"They want to try to get it out before I throw," Maddux said. "If I tried to throw this start, I would probably miss the next one. We'll wait a week to 10 days to see how it is. It's the old better-safe-than-sorry plan."

Maddux, who has won six straight starts, said the fluid should dissipate with rest and he expects to rejoin the rotation for Tuesday's game at Cincinnati. In the meantime, the Braves' five-man rotation can accommodate his missed start because team is off Thursday.

"I'm lucky that my day to pitch was the off-day," Maddux said. "I'm not going to screw up the other guys. If everything goes well, I'll slide right back in next week."

Seanez, one of the team's most valuable middle relievers, was placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday after an MRI disclosed the stress fracture. He expects to undergo another examination next week to see if the injury has improved.

"They're saying it's going to be six to eight weeks, but I'm hoping for mid-September," said Seanez, 6-1 with a 3.35 ERA and three saves in 56 games. "That would be the best case if things go perfect."

Seanez has been plagued by injuries throughout his career. This is the seventh stint on the DL.

The Braves began Thursday with a 1½-game lead over the New York Mets in the NL East. With less than five weeks remaining in the regular season, Seanez hopes to return in time to make a few appearances before the 25-man postseason roster is set.

"That would give me plenty of time to make sure," he said. "If not, then I'll shut it down for the year."

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