ATLANTA -- Chipper Jones won't be healthy enough to come off the disabled list on Friday. But while wearing splints on both of his hands, he's hoping the healing process is expedited enough to allow him to return to the Braves lineup some time the following week.

Jones, who is eligible to come off the 15-day DL on Friday, had a CT scan performed on both his hands on Monday. Braves associate physician Dr. Gary Lourie confirmed that the veteran third baseman hadn't suffered any fractures or tears as a result of the rough fall that he suffered in a May 11 collision with Pirates third baseman Jose Bautista.

But the scan did show Jones' prolonged discomfort is a result of the fact that there was some bleeding where one of the bones in his hands meets a ligament. Laurie told the Braves third baseman that the healing process could take up to six weeks and recommended that he either wears casts for 10 days or the splints that he chose.

"With the casts, I wouldn't have been able to do anything," said Jones, who, while wearing the splints, won't experience any of the muscle atrophy that the casts would have brought.

Although there has been further aggravation to the hands over the course of the past three weeks, Jones is hopeful that the healing process is at least halfway complete. In addition, he believes the immobilizing splints combined with the multiple cortisone shots he received Monday will further speed the process.

The cortisone shot that Jones received in his right hand on May 23 didn't provide much improvement. He received three more -- two in his left hand and one in his right -- on Monday.

"Everything bugs it," Jones said. "If I bend my hand all the way down or all the way back... The doctor says every time that I feel it, I am hurting it."

With the splints, Jones won't be experiencing the discomfort that came from almost any everyday activity, including removing his socks or playing with his children.

Jones expects to be re-evaluated over the weekend. At that time, he'll have a better understanding of how much of an effect the immobilization has had. Obviously, his hope is to begin playing again during the next road trip, which spans June 12-17.

"I've got to see how I feel when he lets me out of these splints," Jones said. "Then it will be a matter of being able to tolerate the bat rolling around the [injured] area."

Escobar praised: When Yunel Escobar drilled his first career homer in the fourth inning of Monday night's loss to the Marlins, he crossed the plate and pointed towards his wife Minerva, who was getting her first chance to see her husband play in the Majors.

During Tuesday's doubleheader against the Marlins, Escobar was excited about the fact that his father and sister, who, like himself, had defected from Cuba, were going to be in attendance.

Since being promoted from Triple-A Richmond on Saturday, Escobar has proven to be more than just a valuable replacement for Jones at third base. His four-hit performance during Monday's home debut only heightened the belief that he's certainly capable of being a valuable asset at the Major League level.

"He's an athlete," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "He's a great-looking ballplayer and a true Major Leaguer right now."

When Jones comes off the disabled list, the Braves will likely look at ways to keep Escobar at the Major League level. With both Edgar Renteria and Kelly Johnson both enjoying strong seasons, there isn't currently an obvious position for the Cuban shortstop. But if nothing else, he may replace Pete Orr as one of the club's utility infielders.

Aggressive McBride: When they lost Mike Gonzalez for the rest of the season with an elbow ligament tear, the Braves crossed their fingers and hoped that Macay McBride would prove to be somebody capable of retiring left-handed batters during the late innings.

McBride has certainly given reason to believe he's overcome the early-season control problems that earned him a trip to Richmond. In his previous six big league appearances entering Tuesday, he had worked seven innings, registering eight strikeouts and issuing just one walk.

"He's looked better each time out," Cox said. "When he lets it go, he's good."

McBride was sent to Richmond after issuing 11 walks in the first three innings that he worked this year.

"I still feel like I can be better with the quality of some of the pitches I'm throwing," McBride said. "But I don't think I'll ever feel content again after what happened to me earlier this year."

Coming Up: The Braves will conclude their four-game series with the Marlins at Turner Field on Wednesday afternoon. They'll send Kyle Davies (3-3, 4.99 ERA) to the mound to oppose Scott Olsen (4-5, 5.35 ERA).