CHICAGO -- Johan Camargo is healthy and available to come off the disabled list. But as with Ronald Acuna Jr., the Braves have chosen to give Camargo some extra time to make up for the days off that preceded the start of Triple-A Gwinnett's season.
Camargo has homered in both of his past two games, but he has hit just .150 (3-for-20) with a .677 OPS through the five Minor League rehab games he has totaled with Class A Advanced Florida and Gwinnett. Before beginning this rehab stint on April 5, the infielder had not played in a real game since straining his right oblique muscle on March 13.
"We're not pushed to get [Camargo] back," manager Brian Snitker said. "Unless something happens, we can keep letting him get the game at-bats. That's the good thing. He's playing every day and doing all of that. If something happens and we needed to bring him back tomorrow, we could. There wouldn't be any reservations."
When the Braves began this road trip last week, they were open to the possibility of adding Camargo and Acuna to their roster during this weekend's three-game series against the Cubs. But as both have struggled to find a groove, the team has maintained a patient approach.
Acuna went 1-for-6 with two strikeouts in Gwinnett's 14-inning loss to Rochester on Thursday. The Braves can call the heralded prospect up at any point now and secure an extra year of contractual control. But the 20-year-old outfielder has shown some rust as he has hit .120 (3-for-25) and struck out 10 times thus far for Gwinnett.
After playing in the March 27 Braves Futures Game, Acuna had to wait nine days before Gwinnett opened its season. There were not any Minor League Spring Training games played during this period. Thus, the position players were limited to what they saw while facing teammates in intrasquad games or live batting practice.
"I think the biggest thing is that layoff," Snitker said. "They played that Futures Game and didn't play for eight or nine days after that. It's not real conducive to keeping things going. They're in that competitive mode to playing teams and then all of the sudden you play pickup games again. It wasn't real conducive to getting back off the mat."
There is a chance Camargo and Acuna will be activated before the Braves begin a homestand with Monday night's game against the Phillies. But for now, the team is not projecting when either player might be added to the roster.
McCarthy on track to make next start
Brandon McCarthy went through his normal between-starts preparations on Friday with the intention of making his next scheduled start on Tuesday. McCarthy exited Wednesday's start against the Nationals when he partially dislocated his left shoulder while reaching to grab a toss as he covered first base to end the fifth inning. The veteran right-hander injured his non-throwing shoulder while lifting weights last year.
"He says he'll be good to go his next start," Snitker said. "When guys have those, they kind of know what it is and what to do."

Blair will have injured shoulder examined Monday
Aaron Blair will visit Dr. James Andrews on Monday to learn the extent of the right shoulder injury that forced him to exit his start for Gwinnett on Wednesday. The right-hander, who lost 39 pounds over the past year, felt the discomfort mount as he progressed through that start.
"I just hate that for him," Snitker said. "He worked his tail off and was getting back to where he wanted to be. He's got this setback, so it's tough for him."