Braves bring up RHP Jhoulys Chacin to start at Nationals

WASHINGTON (AP) The Atlanta Braves have selected the contract of right-hander Jhoulys Chacin from Triple-A Gwinnett so he could start against the Washington Nationals.

To make roster room for Chacin before Tuesday night's game, the Braves optioned righty Joel De La Cruz back to Gwinnett a day after he was called up.

Chacin joined the Braves' organization as a minor league free agent in December. He is 40-49 with a 3.76 ERA over seven seasons in the majors, the first six with the Colorado Rockies.

Last season, he went 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA in five appearances - four starts - for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Center fielder Mallex Smith was back in the lineup for the Braves on Tuesday, a day after he left his major league debut with a cut on his face that needed five stitches.