ATLANTA — Chipper Jones expects to miss at least two games after aggravating a bruise on his left thumb for the second time in a week.

Jones jammed the thumb in his last at-bat in the Braves' 5-1 loss to Florida on Tuesday night. He did not start in Wednesday night's game.

Omar Infante was Atlanta's starting third baseman.

Jones jammed the thumb in spring training and missed one game at Philadelphia last Wednesday after aggravating the injury.

Jones said the pain on Tuesday night "was the worst I've done it." He had the left hand wrapped Wednesday.

"I just keep aggravating and keep aggravating it," he said. "I'm just not giving it enough time to get better.
"I go back and I look at the pitch, it's not a pitch that I should have got jammed on. I had the bat right out in front of me. I just jammed myself. ... I'll have to sit out until I get better."

Jones said he expects to miss games on Thursday and possibly Friday and then be available on a day-to-day basis.

"I have to get back to where I can get jammed and not have it affect me throughout the game," he said.
"I've got no grip strength. I can't even hold a bat today."

Jones said he has not had an X-ray but he said the Braves' medical staff determined there was no "structural damage" in the thumb.

Braves manager Bobby Cox said he is painfully aware of how the pain from a jammed thumb can linger. The 67-year-old Cox pushed a spot below his right thumb on Wednesday and said he could still feel pain from a jammed thumb he suffered in his playing career.

Jones is hitting .333 with a homer and four RBIs.

With Jones out of the lineup, shortstop Yunel Escobar moved down one spot to hit third. Infante hit second, behind Kelly Johnson.

Notes: Garret Anderson did not start Wednesday after going 0-for-4 with two errors on Tuesday night. Cox, who started Matt Diaz in left field, said the decision was not the result of Florida starting a left-handed pitcher, Andrew Miller. Cox said the right-handed hitting Anderson hits right-handers and left-handers equally well. Cox also gave Anderson's defense a vote of confidence while noting the 36-year-old veteran, who is only 2-for-14 (.143) is behind after missing time with a calf injury. "He hasn't had any spring training," Cox said. "... He's going to be a huge factor on this team. I really believe that." ... Catcher David Ross is expected to come off the disabled list and start Thursday. Ross was 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs for Class A Rome in his first injury rehab game on Tuesday as he recovers from a strained right groin. Brian McCann has been the starting catcher for each of the first eight games.