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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 9:16 a.m., Saturday, April 5, 2008

Baseball: Braves to start Smoltz vs. Santana

By CHARLES ODUM
AP Sports Writer

ATLANTA — Tom Glavine's first game against the New York Mets since his return to Atlanta will have to wait.

The Braves shuffled their rotation today, moving John Smoltz to tomorrow's game against Johan Santana and the Mets.

Braves manager Bobby Cox said the switch was made so Smoltz, who opened the season on the disabled list with tightness in the back of his right shoulder, won't have to make his first start in the chill of Colorado. The Braves open a series against the Rockies on Monday.

Smoltz was the original scheduled starter for Sunday, but Friday night's rainout forced each team to push back its rotation. Cox said the discussions with Smoltz and Glavine began as soon as it appeared last night's game would be rained out.

"It could be freezing (in Colorado)," Cox said. "That's no good for anybody, and it wouldn't be fair for Smoltz. ... It's the smart thing to do."

Glavine, 42, played with the Mets the last five years before re-signing with Atlanta, where he had five 20-win seasons in 15 full seasons.