ATLANTA -- Having dealt with plenty of injuries this season, the Atlanta Braves vowed to move on after losing Jason Heyward. Michael Jordan Jersey . The outfielder had surgery Thursday on his broken right jaw after being struck by a pitch. The team has not said how long he will be out, but he could miss the rest of the regular season. Atlanta has a commanding lead in the NL East and hopes Heyward will recover in time for the playoffs. "We lost a big piece, but teams lose that a lot of times," manager Fredi Gonzalez said in St. Louis, where the Braves began a four-game series against the Cardinals. "Weve got plenty of candidates." Dr. Glenn Maron operated on Heyward in Atlanta, one day after he was injured in New York against the Mets. Plates were inserted in both places where the jaw was fractured -- along the right side and near the chin. "We havent talked time frame," Gonzalez said. "It wasnt wired shut. Thats a good thing." Before his injury, Heyward had become one of the Braves hottest hitters. He was batting .253 with 13 homers and 37 RBIs. Plus, hes one of baseballs top defensive outfielders. "Hes a tough one to replace," Gonzalez conceded. The loss of Heyward is the latest in a staggering string of injuries for the Braves this season, even while building a 15-game lead before the series in St. Louis. Already, the Braves have lost six players to season-ending operations, including starting pitcher Tim Hudson and key relievers Eric OFlaherty and Jonny Venters. "Weve just got to find a way to pick up where he left off," centre fielder B.J. Upton said. "Weve got the personnel to fill in and pick up the slack." Heyward got off to a slow start this season, his struggles heightened by an emergency appendectomy in late April. But he sparked the offence after moving to the top of the batting order last month, filling a role that had been a major problem. "You just dont replace an outfield piece like that," said utilityman Evan Gattis, who likely will take on a bigger role. "Its a big loss. Well battle it out and see what happens." The Braves have relied largely on stellar pitching to carry them to the top of the division, ranking second in the league in ERA (3.18) before they faced the Cardinals. Upton and second baseman Dan Uggla are in the midst of dreadful seasons, both hitting under .200. Uggla is on the disabled list recovering from laser eye surgery. Outfielder Reid Johnson is also on the DL with an Achilles tendon injury and the Braves arent sure when hell return. Barring a trade, the Braves will have to get by with a makeshift lineup. In Thursday nights game, the Braves went with Jordan Schafer in the leadoff spot and playing centre field, started Gattis in left and shifted Justin Upton to Heywards spot in right. B.J. Upton did not start. Also, the Braves claimed infielder Elliot Johnson off waivers from Kansas City, reinstated pitcher Paul Maholm from the disabled list and optioned infielder Phil Gosselin back to Triple-A Gwinnett. Johnson started against the Cardinals. "Well just all have to step up," Justin Upton said. "We know what we have to do." John Paxson Jersey . The rookie is rewarding their faith with a stellar first season. MacKinnon had a goal and two assists, Jamie McGinn had two goals and an assist, and Colorado beat the Buffalo Sabres 7-1 on Saturday. Denzel Valentine Jersey . The team also announced Tuesday that the Braves will wear a commemorative patch on the right sleeve during the season. The patch, shaped like home plate, carries the number 715, Aarons autograph and a "40th Anniversary" banner. http://www.cheapbullsjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-chandler-hutchison-jersey . Malone will become an unrestricted free-agent and as per the collective bargaining agreement, the Lightning will be responsible for two-thirds of the remainder of his contract over twice the length of the rest of the deal.MONTREAL -- Dierry Jean of Montreal has taken another step toward challenging Lamont Peterson for the International Boxing Federation light welterweight title. Petersons promoter Golden Boy won a purse bid Tuesday and has 90 days to organize the bout, which will likely be held in the United States. Jean (25-0) became mandatory challenger for the IBF 140-pound belt with a seven-round stoppage of Cleotis Pondarvis in Oklahoma in May. Wholesale Bulls Jerseys. Peterson (31-2-1) won the title with a split decision win over Amir Khan and defended it in February with an eighth-round TKO of Kendall Holt. The 29-year-old from Memphis was punched out in three rounds by Argentine Lucas Matthysse in a non-title bout in May. Cheap Diamondbacks Jerseys Cheap Braves Jerseys Cheap Orioles Jerseys Cheap Red Sox Jerseys Cheap Cubs Jerseys Cheap White Sox Jerseys Cheap Reds Jerseys Cheap Indians Jerseys Cheap Rockies Jerseys Cheap Tigers Jerseys Cheap Astros Jerseys Cheap Royals Jerseys Cheap Angels Jerseys Cheap Dodgers Jerseys Cheap Marlins Jerseys ' ' '