ATLANTA -- Braves right-handed reliever Peter Moylan will undergo right shoulder surgery to clean some damage around his torn labrum and torn rotator cuff. Moylan made the decision after getting a second opinion from noted surgeon Dr. James Andrews on Monday.

Moylan is expected to need at least four to six months of rehab following the surgical procedure, which has not yet been scheduled. But Braves general manager Frank Wren said an exact timetable for the reliever's return will not be known until doctors view the extent of the damage during the surgical procedure.

Via his Twitter account, Moylan said he believes he will return in six months because the labrum and rotator cuff do not need to be repaired.

There is certainly a chance that Moylan would be forced to miss most of the 2012 season. But based on the damage shown via an MRI exam, the Braves think there is at least a chance the popular Australian reliever could return during the early portion of next season.

"I wouldn't count him out," Wren said.

This has been a rough season for Moylan, who made just seven appearances in April before learning he needed to undergo back surgery to repair a herniated disc. He returned earlier this month and made just six more appearances before he felt discomfort in his shoulder while playing catch last week.

Moylan made 80 appearances for the Braves in 2007, and then missed most of 2008 recovering from Tommy John surgery. When he returned the following season, he set a franchise record with 87 appearances. Last year, he made 85 appearances.

Jurrjens, Hanson still vying for playoff spots

ATLANTA -- Braves right-hander Jair Jurrjens will throw four or five innings in an instructional league game on Thursday, and the club is still not ruling out the possibility of the All-Star pitching in the National League Division Series.

Jurrjens, who has been out with right knee soreness, threw three pain-free innings on Saturday and impressed the Braves by showing his normal velocity. If he does indeed make it back for the first round -- provided the Braves get there -- he would be on schedule to pitch in Game 4 at Turner Field.

"We've got to get in first," general manager Frank Wren said. "We've got to be open to making those decisions at the last minute based on the information that we have."

The Braves were also hoping to have Tommy Hanson back in time to start on Wednesday if the club had already clinched a playoff spot. But that's unlikely now as the righty failed to throw his bullpen session on Saturday. Hanson -- who is on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis -- had lingering soreness in his shoulder and also had the flu.

"It very well could be typical Spring Training soreness, where you're getting it geared back up and using muscles you haven't used before," Wren said. "We're just kind of letting it clear itself up before we progress him."

Manager Fredi Gonzalez didn't think that Hanson would be available for the first round, but didn't want to rule out a possible appearance after the NLDS.

"We're going to try and keep pushing through it," Gonzalez said. "Maybe a little later on, hopefully we'll go a couple different rounds and he may be available."

Gonzalez returns to lineup; Sherrill activated

ATLANTA -- Alex Gonzalez returned to the Braves' lineup on Monday for the first time in nearly a week, as the shortstop had spent the last several days dealing with a strain in his right calf.

"He's going to go out there and try and move around a little bit," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "I told him if he feels uncomfortable whatsoever, we'll make a lineup switch. Hopefully he gets through [batting practice] and some ground balls and feels good about himself."

Gonzalez -- who strained the calf in last Tuesday's game with the Marlins -- had been the Braves' hottest hitter before his injury. He hit .467 (14-for-30) with three homers before the early departure in Miami.

George Sherrill could be joining Gonzalez on the field. The lefty -- who hasn't pitched since Aug. 26 due to elbow inflammation -- was activated on Monday before the series opener with the Phillies.

"If we wanted to, George could give us a hitter or two," Gonzalez said. "He looked OK."

Chipper, McCann persevere, start vs. Lee

ATLANTA -- Chipper Jones has battled through right knee discomfort and he has struggled against left-handed pitchers, and Brian McCann has simply struggled while trying to convince doubters that he is healthy.

But with the Braves having put themselves in what feels like must-win situations down the stretch, both Jones and McCann were ready to battle Phillies left-hander Cliff Lee on Monday night.

Jones' right knee has bothered him throughout the year, and he has realized just minimal improvement since having a torn meniscus repaired in the knee via an arthroscopic surgical procedure in July. Dating back to the beginning of August, the veteran switch-hitter has batted .349 against right-handed pitchers, and just .231 (9-for-39) against left-handed pitchers.

"I said the last time we were here, I don't want to hear, 'I'm hurting,' or 'I'm tired,'" Jones said. "It's all hands on deck from now until the end of the season. There's no excuses. Go out and do your job."

McCann was positioned in the sixth spot of the lineup for the second time this season. Before Sept. 13, the six-time All-Star catcher had not hit that low since 2008.

Since returning from missing three weeks with a strained left oblique muscle, McCann has endured one of the worst stretches of his career. His .174 batting average in that span ranks as the lowest mark of any qualified Major League player.