ATLANTA — Tom Glavine said he is encouraged about the reduced pain in his left elbow after some aggressive exercises on Wednesday, and the Braves pitcher hopes to begin throwing off the mound in about two weeks.

Glavine was placed on the disabled list June 11 with a tear in his flexor tendon. He said if he continues to improve he should be able to begin throwing soon after the All-Star break.

"A lot of the point tenderness I've had I didn't have yesterday," Glavine said.

Glavine is encouraged but says he continues to recognize there is no guarantee he'll be able to pitch without having surgery.

"In talking with the doctors, they've all been very up front with me about what I have," Glavine said. "There's a lot of uncertainty. They can't tell me, 'Hey, there's a 90 percent chance you'll come back,' or 'There's a 50 percent chance you'll come back."'

Glavine is watching the calendar, with an eye on the start of the 2009 season, as he monitors the progress of his elbow. He says if has to have surgery, he doesn't want to wait so long that he wouldn't be ready for spring training.

TANKERSLEY RECALLED: The Florida Marlins recalled reliever Taylor Tankersley from Triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday, a day after Eulogio De La Cruz was sent down. Tankersley, 25, was with the Marlins earlier this season before being sent to Albuquerque on June 3.

BRAVES ACTIVATE PRADO: The Braves activated infielder Martin Prado from the disabled list Thursday and optioned infielder Brent Lillibridge to Triple-A Richmond.

PHILLIES CALL UP HAPP: The Phillies will call up left-hander J.A. Happ to pitch against Johan Santana and the New York Mets, manager Charlie Manuel said Thursday. Happ, 25, will be recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley for the start on Friday in Philadelphia.

BARTLETT GOES ON DL: Tampa Bay placed shortstop Jason Bartlett on the 15-day disabled list Thursday, a day after he sprained his right knee in a 7-6 victory over the Boston Red Sox. The Rays recalled infielder Ben Zobrist from Triple-A Durham. The team also purchased the contract of shortstop Reid Brignac from the minor league affiliate.

RED SOX ACTIVATE TIMLIN: Red Sox reliever Mike Timlin returned from the disabled list Thursday, joining the Boston bullpen for the start of a four-game series against the New York Yankees. The 42-year-old righty went on the 15-day DL on June 21 because of tendinitis in his left knee. It was the fifth time in the last three years that he'd been out with an injury.

REDS CLAIM PHILLIPS: The Cincinnati Reds claimed infielder Andy Phillips off waivers from the New York Mets on Thursday and optioned right-hander Daryl Thompson to Triple-A Louisville.

CASTILLO PLACED ON DL: The New York Mets placed second baseman Luis Castillo on the 15-day-disabled list Thursday due to a strained hip flexor. Castillo did not start the previous two games, although he played after a double switch in an 8-7 loss to the Cardinals on Wednesday.