The Atlanta Braves put outfielder Mark Kotsay on the 15-day disabled list Friday with a strained lower back. Kotsay was scratched from a game Monday with tightness in his back. He returned to Atlanta on Thursday night for evaluation.

Braves place Kotsay on disabled list

Kotsay could return this weekend

Braves OF Mark Kotsay (back) missed his fourth consecutive game Thursday against the Brewers. The Braves are still treating him as day to day.

Kotsay likely to avoid disabled list

Braves OF Mark Kotsay (back) missed his third straight game Wednesday against the Brewers. The Braves are still treating him as day to day.

Report: Kotsay could be headed to DL

Braves OF Mark Kotsay (back) missed his second straight game Tuesday against the Brewers. MLB.com reports Kotsay showed up to Miller Park Tuesday and reported his back wasn't any better than it had been on Monday. "We're going to see how he is day-to-day," manager Cox said.

Former A's outfielder Mark Kotsay was dealt to the Braves for reliever Joey Devine, minor league pitcher Jamie Richmond and cash considerations.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Mark Kotsay was a late scratch against Arizona on Monday because he felt his back tighten up during batting practice in the morning. Gregor Blanco started in center field, with Greg Norton in left.

Kotsay out with stiff back

Mark Kotsay knocked in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning with a two-out RBI double, and the Braves edged the Oakland Athletics 3-2 on Friday night for their eighth straight home victory. For the month of May, he's batting .340 with two homers, 11 RBI and 11 runs scored.

The Sports Xchange notes that Mark Kotsay has hit safely in 18 of his last 22 games since April 17, batting .357 (30-for-84) with five doubles, two home runs and 15 RBI, raising his batting average to .306 from .220.

Braves OF Mark Kotsay, who had hit safely in eight of nine May games (13-for-35), moved up in the batting order as a result Tuesday at Philadelphia. He walked twice in three at-bats and scored two runs.

Braves OF Mark Kotsay had two RBI doubles that plated three runs in a 8-1 win during Game 2 of a doubleheader Monday against the Pirates. Kotsay, who now has seven doubles, finished 3-for-5. He has hit safely in eight of nine May games (13-for-35). He has two homers and 10 RBI in that span.

Kotsay drives in three runs for Braves

Braves OF Mark Kotsay homered for the second straight game Tuesday against the Padres, finishing 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. He's riding a seven-game hitting streak, during which he has batted .448 (13-for-29).

Braves OF Mark Kotsay continued his hot hitting with a 3-for-4 day at the plate Sunday against the Reds. He scored three runs and drove in three, connecting for his second home run. He was batting second in the lineup with Yunel Escobar getting a day off and has hit .440 (11-for-25) over his last six games.

Kotsay adds three runs, three RBI in victory