"Tommy Hanson's second bullpen session Sunday was better than the first two days earlier, and the Braves right-hander was excited about returning from the DL to start Tuesday.

He missed two starts recovering from rotator-cuff tendinitis in his pitching shoulder.

"It feels good," Hanson said. "Just getting back my game. It's been a couple of weeks. I just want to get back out there and hopefully pick up where I left off."

He's 8-4 with a 2.48 ERA that is the third-lowest among NL starters behind teammate Jair Jurrjens (2.07) and Phillies ace Roy Halladay (2.40).

Hanson is coming back without making a minor-league rehab start. After resting nearly a week, he's thrown two flat-ground sessions and two bullpen sessions."