WASHINGTON -- When Tom Glavine made his Major League debut back in 1987, he was able to do so because the Braves had opened a roster spot by trading Doyle Alexander to the Tigers for some young right-hander named John Smoltz.

Thus maybe it was fitting for Glavine to end his first career stint on the disabled list by taking the 25-man roster spot previously occupied by Smoltz.

Before sending Glavine to the mound to start Tuesday night's series opener at Nationals Park, the Braves seemingly found some good news regarding Smoltz's right shoulder. But they will still be without the 40-year-old hurler for at least two more weeks, while he goes on the 15-day disabled list for the second time this season.

"We're going to let him rest for a little bit and see what happens," said Braves manager Bobby Cox after learning that noted surgeon Dr. James Andrews didn't find any significant structural damage while evaluating Smoltz on Tuesday.

After running an MRI scan and CT scan on Smoltz's shoulder, Andrews determined that the discomfort the veteran pitcher has been battling is being caused by a severely inflamed biceps muscle and an inflamed rotator cuff.

When Andrews prescribed a few weeks of rest, the Braves were able to exhale and end their worries about him possibly having an ailment that would require surgery.

Based on the disgust that Smoltz displayed after allowing four earned runs in four innings against the Mets on Sunday, the Braves didn't know what to expect. If nothing else, it was obvious this discomfort was different from the tightness that he'd previously been experiencing between his neck and right shoulder.

"[Andrews' diagnosis] sounded good to me," Cox said. "It's nothing that's going to end your career."

When Tim Hudson was told of the diagnosis, he responded in a manner that provided a reminder of how much Smoltz's presence means to the team's success.

"That's great news," Hudson said. "We need to have him as healthy as he can be. He might need some time to get that thing calmed down."

When Smoltz began this season on the disabled list and was then activated just six games into the regular season, there was hope that the few additional days of rest might have put an end to the tightness he had been feeling between his neck and right shoulder.

Now the Braves are taking the mind-set that they'll give Smoltz all the time that he needs before returning to action.

"There's no real timetable," Braves general manager Frank Wren said. "When he's pain free and throwing again, we'll be able to determine when he can come back."

Concerned that Smoltz, who will turn 41 on May 15, might be battling this kind of discomfort throughout the remainder of the season, some Braves players wondered if he might move back to the closer's role that he adeptly handled from 2001-2004.

When asked, Wren said it was "too premature" for the club to even evaluate that option.

Before struggling during Sunday afternoon's start at Shea Stadium, Smoltz was simply dominant. Entering the game, he had worked 23 innings and surrendered just two earned runs. Plus, during both of his two previous starts, he had recorded 10 strikeouts -- marking the first time since 1997 that he'd recorded multi-digit strikeout totals in consecutive games.

When Smoltz registered 10 strikeouts against the Marlins on April 17, the shoulder tightness limited him to just five innings. But like he did when battling this discomfort during the second half of last season and again over the course of the past month, he was able to make the adjustments that allowed him to continue experiencing success.