Wrist Injury Costs Smoltz a Start

Atlanta Brave starter John Smoltz, who leads the major leagues with 17 victories, suffered a chipped bone in his left wrist Friday night and is expected to miss at least one start.

The injury occurred in the eighth inning when Dodger third baseman Juan Castro hit a line drive up the middle that caromed off Smoltz’s wrist into center field. He was immediately taken to Centinella Medical Center for X-rays, and was re-examined Saturday by Dr. Frank Jobe.

“I’ve been hit before,” said Smoltz, who had a soft cast on his left wrist, “but this is probably the hardest I’ve been hit in my life. “It’s just one of those things as a pitcher, you go through.

“Hopefully, I’ll miss just one start.

The Braves, who have not had any of their top four starters miss a start since 1991, now have been without Steve Avery since July 13 and fifth starter, Jason Schmidt, since July 14.

“We’ve got our fingers crossed,” Atlanta Manager Bobby Cox said. “It just depends on whether he can play the ball, bunt the ball and field the ball.”

The injury could be costly to the Braves, who were on the verge of acquiring veteran starter Danny Darwin from the Pittsburgh Pirates last week, but he instead was traded to the Houston Astros. If Smoltz is sidelined, they may put reliever Mike Bielecki in the rotation.

*

Left fielder Todd Hollandsworth, who suffered a bruised left elbow Friday when he was hit an errant pitch, is expected to be sidelined until Tuesday. He was replaced in the lineup by Wayne Kirby.