ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves have gotten the expected bad news on right-handed reliever Peter Moylan, who will need surgery for a torn rotator cuff and labrum.

But there is a bright side for Moylan. He tweeted that his upcoming surgery is more of a cleanup than a total repair of the shoulder. That should reduce the recovery time to about six months, instead of most or all of the 2012 season.

Moylan was diagnosed last week by team doctors. Dr. James Andrews confirmed Monday that the pitcher will need the third major operation of his career.

A ground-ball specialist, Moylan already has missed most of this season after surgery for a bulging disc in his back. Moylan previously had ligament replacement surgery in his elbow, knocking him out for most of 2008.