"Braves pitcher Derek Lowe, who hopes to return to the starting rotation Wednesday, was told to rest his sore elbow one more day before testing it Sunday.

Lowe has a bone chip in his elbow and missed a start Friday, five days after getting the first cortisone shot of his career. An MRI Thursday showed no ligament damage, and Lowe said the injury won't worsen if he pitches with it.

Kenshin Kawakami (1-10) gave up five runs in three innings in a fill-in start Friday. I f Lowe can't pitch Wednesday the Braves might consider bringing up minor leaguer Brandon Beachy for one start, or have reliever Cristhian Martinez make an emergency start.

The Braves hope Lowe will be able to make the start.

"If [Lowe] can't go," manager Bobby Cox said, then paused, smiled, and said, "let's see if he can go."

Lowe was told if he can tolerate the discomfort, he can pitch. He plans to keep pitching this season and doesn't know if he'll need to have surgery in the offseason.

The veteran right-hander said he's had the floating chip in his elbow for some time, but it recently became lodged in an indention or crevice in the elbow. The hope is that a week of rest and the cortisone shot will relieve inflammation that hindered him in his last start."