Tommy Hanson (lower back strain) tossed five scoreless innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday.

With Ben Sheets, Tim Hudson, Paul Maholm, Mike Minor and Kris Medlen in the rotation, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez and pitching coach Roger McDowell will discuss if they want to go to a six-man rotation when Hanson returns. The Braves are currently in a stretch where they play 19 games in 19 days. Hanson has been on the disabled list since July 31 with the back injury. He's hoping to be activated when first eligible on August 15.

Tommy Hanson (lower back strain) will make a rehab start for Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday.

Hanson has been on the DL since July 31 with the lower back strain. He has played catch several times this week without any incident, and barring any setbacks in the rehab start should be good to return to the Braves rotation when first eligible on August 15.

Tommy Hanson (lower back strain) has played catch each of the past two days without incident.

"It's good; I don't feel anything anymore," said Hanson, who hit the disabled list on July 31. "I just think I needed a little break, a little rest." He's hoping to be activated when first eligible (August 15).

Braves placed RHP Tommy Hanson on the 15-day disabled list with a lower back strain.

Hanson earned his 12th victory of the season on Monday against the Marlins but lasted just five innings because of the back discomfort. He'll aim to return as soon as his 15 days are up. The right-hander has a 4.29 ERA in 126 innings this season.

Despite seven walks and seven stolen bases against him, Tommy Hanson limited the Marlins to one run in five innings in a victory Wednesday.

The Marlins became the first team this season to swipe seven bases, going 7-for-8 in their steal attempts while Hanson was in the game. It didn't really hurt the right-hander, though, as he just kept working his way out of the jams. Hanson became the first pitcher since Ervin Santana last Sept. 1 to win while walking seven batters.

Tommy Hanson turned in a solid performance in Saturday's victory over the Phillies, allowing three runs on six hits over seven frames.

Hanson struck out six while walking one in the game. All three runs scored in the second inning, but Hanson settled in nicely afterwards and shut down the Phillies for the remaining five innings. He'll head into the second half of the season with an impressive 10-5 record, 3.71 ERA and 93/38 K/BB ratio over 106 2/3 innings on the year.

Tommy Hanson won Wednesday despite surrendering four homers in five-plus innings against the Yankees.

Fortunately, all of the homers were solo shots and they accounted for all of the runs he allowed. Hanson is now 8-4 with a 3.54 ERA in 86 1/3 innings. Still, it's worth noting that he's already given up as many homers this year (14) as he did in 202 2/3 innings in 2010.

Tommy Hanson turned in a stellar performance in Saturday's win over the Blue Jays, going eight innings and allowing just two runs on five hits.

Hanson fanned four and walked just one in the impressive performance. The lone mark against him in the game was Jose Bautista's two-run blast in the sixth inning. Hanson has all the talent in the world and has always pitched well when healthy. This season has been no different, as he now sits at 7-4 with a 3.55 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 76 innings. He'll look to keep rolling when the Orioles come to Atlanta on Friday.

Tommy Hanson held the Nationals to two runs on six hits in seven innings of Sunday's 3-2 victory.

Hanson struck out six and walked none. Roughed up by the Cardinals last Monday, it looked like it was going to be another long day for Hanson after he allowed a pair of solo home runs in the first inning, but he settled down for one of his stronger starts of the season. Today was his first walk-free outing of the year. He'll bring a 3.71 ERA into his Saturday start in Boston. He'll be tested in that one.

Tommy Hanson held the Reds to one run on four hits in six innings of work on Wednesday, taking a no-decision in Atlanta's 2-1 loss in Cincinnati.

Hanson struck out five and walked only two, but got let down by his offense. The quality start was his third in his past four outings, and leaves him with a 3.12 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 51/23 K/BB ratio through 57 2/3 frames. He'll get the Cardinals at home on Monday.

Tommy Hanson beat the Cardinals Sunday by allowing one run over five innings.

Hanson was forced to throw 97 pitches in his relatively short time on the hill, but he did strike out a season-high nine batters. It's the most strikeouts he's posted since fanning 14 Astros back in June of last season. Hanson hasn't given up more than four earned runs in any of his eight starts this season and will face the Rays in interleague play next time out.

Tommy Hanson had a rough outing against the Braves on Wednesday, surrendering four runs on eight hits in just 3 2/3 innings of work.

Hanson walked two and fanned three on the night. As bad as he was, he actually fared better than Roy Halladay on the flip side of the diamond. The rough outing raises Hanson's ERA to 3.74. He will look to right the ship against Cubs on Monday at Wrigley Field.

Tommy Hanson picked up his third win on the season, limiting the weak-hitting Pirates to one run on six hits over six innings on Friday.

Hanson struck out five and walked three in the game. He easily silenced the league's lowest scoring offense with minimal effort in this outing. The lone run that scored came across after Andrew McCutchen singled, stole a base and came home on a Garrett Jones single in the fourth inning. He'll attempt to carry over the momentum from this strong outing when he takes on the Phillies next week.

Tommy Hanson started strong Monday, but the Mets eventually got to him, as he allowed five runs -- four earned -- on five hits and two walks over seven innings.

He recorded four strikeouts. The big blow came in the sixth inning, when Ike Davis followed an intentional walk to David Wright with a two-out, three-run blast. Hanson's velocity still isn't up to where we're used to seeing it, but he's still pitched pretty well for the most part in the early going. He has a tough matchup in Arizona this weekend.

Tommy Hanson defeated the Astros on Tuesday, allowing two runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings of work.

Hanson struck out eight, but also walked three in his short outing. The most important aspect of his outing though, is that he finished it healthy and his velocity was good. He improved to 1-1 on the season and will take on the Mets in his next start.

Tommy Hanson's next start could come on regular rest on April 10, pushing Randall Delgado's season debut back a day.

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said Hanson would likely come back on regular rest if he threw about 85 pitches against the Mets Thursday, and he wound up throwing 83. Delgado is holding down the No. 5 spot until Tim Hudson (back) is ready.

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said Thursday that Tommy Hanson will have no restrictions Thursday.

Hanson recovered nicely from his early-spring concussion and also seems to be over last year's shoulder issues. Gonzalez said the right-hander can go "115 pitches" in his Opening Day start vs. the Mets.

Tommy Hanson gave up two runs and five hits in six innings Saturday against the Tigers.

Hanson allowed just one extra-base hit, that being a Clete Thomas homer in the third. He struck out one and walked none. All in all, the spring went about as well as Hanson owners could have hoped for. We have our doubts that he'll hold up all season, but he'll be worth using in all formats initially.

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez confirmed Saturday that Tommy Hanson will start Opening Day against the Mets.

It was previously speculated that Jair Jurrgens would be named the starter. Hanson, 25, established himself as one of the NL's top pitchers last season before being shutdown by injury. He missed two weeks of spring training with a mild (Grade 1) concussion.

Tommy Hanson allowed an unearned run and one hit in four innings Wednesday as the Braves edged the Nationals 3-2 in 10 innings.

Hanson plunked a couple of batters and allowed a run after a Brian McCann passed ball, but it was a positive outing for his new delivery. He told the AJC's Dave O'Brien afterwards that he needs to work on the release point of his curveball and his delivery with runners on second base.