Braves catcher Flowers on track to rejoin lineup Friday

Braves catcher Tyler Flowers. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

Credit: Curtis Compton

Credit: Curtis Compton

Braves catcher Tyler Flowers. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

Braves catcher Tyler Flowers is expected to start the first two games of the weekend series at Philadelphia after a right hamstring injury limited him to pinch-hitting duty the past two days.

Flowers left Sunday’s game because of the injury, didn’t play Monday and was available to pinch hit against the Nationals on Tuesday and Wednesday. He made one plate appearance in Tuesday’s game and drew a walk.

“I’m feeling good,” Flowers said before the game Wednesday. “Each day is a little better. I haven’t felt anything today so that’s a good thing. I’ve done a fair bit already. But we will do some more (batting) cage, normal ‘BP,’ run around some bases and I should be able to go.”

Kurt Suzuki started at catcher Monday and Tuesday, and No. 3 catcher Anthony Recker was in the lineup Wednesday. Suzuki and Flowers were splitting duties before Flowers’ injury.

Flowers suffered the injury while running the bases on a double against the Padres. He stayed in the game, but left after the next batter made an out.

“I was pretty worried about it when I got to second,” he said. “I had that feeling before. This one was different, but similar. I wanted to be a tough guy and stay out there and then I was like, ‘I’m not going to be any good being out here right now.’

“I’m glad we just caught it when I did. Now being the wimp kind of paid off.”