Peterson out of starting lineup with achy hand

ATLANTA -- Jace Peterson was relieved to learn the left hand discomfort he has battled the past couple of weeks was not a product of structural damage But the Braves second baseman and leadoff man will not return to the starting lineup before Sunday.

Peterson spent a portion of Thursday's off-day undergoing an X-ray exam that revealed no structural damage between his left thumb and index finger. But because he received a cortisone shot to reduce inflammation, the Braves opted to sit him for Friday's series opener against the Pirates and limit him to potential defensive duties on Saturday.

"I've been playing with it for the last 2 1/2 weeks, so I think it will be good," said Peterson, who believes he jammed his hand while diving for a ball.

Peterson snapped a 7-for-41 skid with a three-hit performance on Saturday in San Francisco. He drilled a game-winning, ninth-inning triple on Sunday, but then went 2-for-12 during this week's series in Arizona.

Pedro Ciriaco manned second base for Atlanta on Friday night. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez plans to play Juan Uribe at second base Saturday night, mainly because he wants third baseman Chris Johnson's bat in the lineup against Pirates southpaw Jeff Locke.

Before primarily serving as a third baseman over the past five seasons, Uribe spent a majority of his Major League career as a shortstop and second baseman. He has not played second base since 2011, when he played 18 games there for the Dodgers.