ATLANTA -- John Smoltz is back on the disabled list with elbow problems and the Atlanta Braves don't known how long he'll be out of action.

	Smoltz

Smoltz, who missed all of last season after ligament replacement surgery, opened the season on the DL. He made five starts since his return in May.

But the elbow has acted up again.

Smoltz, 34, was placed on the 15-day DL, retroactive to June 10, after being examined late Monday by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., who diagnosed inflammation in his right elbow and shoulder.

The Braves don't know how long Smoltz will be out, but general manager John Schuerholz was optimistic the pitcher would be back this season.

"Temporary setbacks like this are completely expected and normal," he said. "We were encouraged by how good he's pitched when his arm felt good. It still looks good.

"We'll shut him down for a while -- however long it takes -- for the irritation to go away and tendinitis to clear up. However long it is, we don't know. When John will pitch again, how many starts he'll miss is all dependent on how he feels, how his arm responds to treatment. Nobody really knows. Realistically, we fully expect him back (this season)."

A telephone call to Smoltz's Atlanta home was not immediately returned, but his agent, Lonnie Cooper, said he spoke with Smoltz.

"I think right now, basically, he's a little frustrated. He's just going to give it rest, see how it goes," he said.

"He'll just deal with it one day at a time. He's going to know when he's ready. There's no plan. No time frame," said Cooper, who said Smoltz will be back this season.

Smoltz last started on Saturday against the New York Yankees. He allowed four runs and six hits before leaving after three innings complaining of a sore back. He's 2-2 with a 5.76 ERA.

"He's got a little inflammation; we've got to let it settle down," Braves manager Bobby Cox told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Nothing major."

Right-handed reliever Joe Nelson replaced Smoltz on the Braves' roster. Cox said Jason Marquis will be moved into the rotation to replace Smoltz.

Smoltz returned to the Braves' rotation on May 17 after the latest surgery on his elbow March 23, 2000. He gave up five runs in three innings of an 8-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies, but was encouraged afterward.

It was the right-hander's first start since Game 4 of the 1999 World Series. He missed all of last season after the surgery and the first 6½ weeks this year when the pain lingered.

Smoltz, the winningest postseason pitcher in major league history with a 12-4 record, managed to thrive for years with a shaky elbow.

He underwent arthroscopic surgery on the elbow on Dec. 13, 1997, and opened the season on the DL, the first of four trips during the 1998 and 1999 seasons. He finally succumbed to the pain in spring training last year and underwent "Tommy John" surgery.

Smoltz entered spring training this year hoping to return immediately to the Atlanta rotation, but tendinitis forced him to abandon those plans. He was activated last month after two pain-free starts in the minor leagues.