ATLANTA -- After completing this season's first three months in impressive fashion, Julio Teheran has spent the past six weeks dealing with a couple of ailments that interrupted the flow of his All-Star season.
Teheran will conclude the first disabled-list stint of his career when he is activated to make Friday night's start against the Nationals at Turner Field. The 25-year-old right-hander has been sidelined since July 31 with a right lat strain. His final two starts before the All-Star break were influenced by an infection that developed on his right thigh.
"Hopefully tomorrow when I get the ball, I'll continue the same way I was throwing," Teheran said. "I'm ready to go."
This has already been a memorable week for Teheran, who welcomed his son Jordan into the world on Tuesday. But now the Braves' ace is looking forward to prove he has overcome the upper-back ailment that plagued him in two of the three starts he made after the All-Star break.
Teheran exited his July 22 start at Coors Field after four innings because he began feeling some tightness around his right lat. He was given two extra days of rest before his next start, but when the discomfort lingered following his five-inning effort against the Phillies on July 30, he was placed on the disabled list.
After resting his arm for a week, Teheran resumed his normal activities and responded well after throwing five innings during a rehab start for Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday.
Teheran produced a 2.46 ERA through his first 16 starts of this season and then allowed five earned runs in both of the final two starts he completed before the All-Star break. After throwing a scoreless inning for the National League in the All-Star Game, he tossed seven scoreless innings against the Rockies in his first start back from the break.
Over the month that has followed, Teheran has dealt with the upper-back ailment and aimed for the opportunity he now has to finish the season strong.
"I know I missed two weeks, but I'm just trying to get back out there and do the same thing -- compete and pitch," Teheran said.