Paul

Byrd

Byrd, recovering from elbow tendinitis, pitched 3 1/3 innings in a minor league game yesterday, and will make one more rehab start Friday or Saturday.

Byrd apparently will join Bartolo Colon, Kelvim Escobar and John Lackey in the rotation. It looks like the team will continue to pursue Matt Clement and attempt to trade Jarrod Washburn.

Byrd won’t be getting another two-year, $10 million contract, but he’ll probably be a fairly popular free agent once the bigger names start coming off the board.

Against Jacksonville, Byrd allowed five runs in the first inning, then pitched four scoreless innings. He allowed six hits, two walks, hit two batters and struck out two. A bit of a rocky start, but he got through it. Byrd is aiming for a mid-June return.

Byrd will head out on a rehab assignment if he can come through a bullpen session and simulated game okay in the next few days.

''I’ve got full range of motion, no pain,’' said Byrd, who is still expected to be out until July.

Until then, Byrd will continue a regimen of strengthening and range of motion exercises. He’s aiming to return during the first half of next season.

The Braves still don’t think either problem is serious, but Byrd needs to start building stamina or he’s not going to be ready to start games at the beginning of the season. Byrd, scratched from his start scheduled for tomorrow, will throw a side session instead.

Byrd threw from a mound Saturday for the first time in 10 days and said there was no pain in his injured groin, adding that a little elbow soreness went away after he warmed up.

Byrd hopes to return from Tommy John surgery in late May or early June. He’ll probably have a setback or two before then, so it’s possible he won’t pitch for the Braves until after the All-Star break.