Atlanta’s Glavine Will Miss Start

Tom Glavine, hampered by a sore right Achilles tendon, will skip his scheduled start today when the Atlanta Braves open a four-game series against the Florida Marlins.

Glavine, who is 10-5 with a 3.18 earned-run average, made the decision Wednesday when he continued to hobble on the injured leg.

“It feels a little better, but not a whole lot better,� he said. “I know I could pitch fine. I know I could field my position. It’s just a concern about running the bases.�

Glavine strained a hamstring and then reaggravated the tendon injury Saturday in Cincinnati while sliding.

He said he expects to miss only one start. He’ll be replaced by Paul Byrd, who began the season in the Braves bullpen but was sent to triple-A Richmond after posting a 4.88 earned-run average in 23 appearances.

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The Philadelphia Phillies’ top pick in last month’s amateur draft, outfielder J.D. Drew, lost his bid to become a free agent when major league baseball’s executive council rejected agent Scott Boras’ petition that Drew had not received a contract within the required 15 days.

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Pete Harnisch, on a 30-day rehabilitation assignment from the New York Mets, stuck out eight in six innings and singled in a run to lead Norfolk to a 7-1 victory over Richmond in the International League. . . . The San Diego Padres continue to express interest in reacquiring right-hander Willie Blair from Detroit, and also are interested in at least two other pitchers as tonight’s trading deadline approaches.