ROME, Ga. -- John Smoltz's decision to pitch from a three-quarters arm slot has everybody talking -- and that's a bad thing for opposing hitters at any level.

"Man, from that slot, it's tough to pull the trigger on an inside pitch," said Asheville outfielder David Christensen, who was one of three Tourists to strike out against Smoltz during the right-hander's second Minor League rehab assignment on Thursday.

"I'm going to call up my buddies tonight and say I got struck out by John Smoltz, a future Hall of Famer."

Smoltz threw two innings for Class A Rome on Thursday, and said afterward that he expects to be activated from the 15-day disabled list before the Braves' game against the Marlins on Monday.

The Braves veteran, who has recently been hesitant to give updates on his rehabilitation, seemed rather optimistic after his outing on Thursday. He had good command of all of his pitches, particularly his trademark slider, which has even more bite from the new arm angle.

That was the general consensus from Braves players during a simulated game last week, and it was again the case Thursday in Class A baseball.

Smoltz, who also dropped his arm angle because of elbow pain in 1999, can throw the slider inside to right-handed hitters, buckling them as it catches the inside corner. But he can also throw it outside, as he did twice in the second inning, and all a hitter can do is hopelessly wave at it.

"I threw some real good, quality pitches that would get hitters out at any level," said Smoltz, who threw 27 pitches (17 for strikes) in his second Minor League rehab assignment. He has been on the DL since April 28 because of inflammation in both his biceps tendon and rotator cuff in his right shoulder.

The only Asheville player to record a hit off Smoltz was outfielder Michael Mitchell, who fisted a single into left field in the first inning.

"I was just lucky to get a piece," said Mitchell, who said that although Smoltz is employing the new arm angle, the amount of movement is similar to when he threw from a more traditional release point.

Rome catcher Benji Johnson, who was catching Smoltz for the first time, had a similar response. "That's his pitch," Johnson said, referring to the slider. "I'm not sure how many times we threw it tonight, but it looked pretty good from my point of view."

During his Thursday press conference, Smoltz said that when he returns to Atlanta on Monday, catcher Brian McCann will need to get used to the new angles, which Smoltz hopes will induce more groundouts.

He forced three groundouts on Thursday, as Smoltz only fell behind in one count in two innings.

"The big difference is not necessarily his stuff, though his slider is real good," Christensen said. "It's that when he's down in the count, he's making good pitches and he wouldn't give in."

And that's what Smoltz has always done, and it's why the oft-injured veteran will try any and everything to continue helping the Braves win games. Smoltz said Thursday that pitching in the bullpen is his only reasonable option, and that his arm wouldn't hold up to the stresses of starting every five days.

He will have the opportunity to pitch in the closer's role for Rome on Saturday, when he makes what should be his final Minor League rehab assignment.

Knowing he'll have Smoltz available in the late innings that night, Rome manager Randy Ingle said, "Can't think of anybody any better."