AJ Smith-Shawver (elbow) will begin his rehab assignment on Thursday with two innings of a simulated game.

Smith-Shawver is expected to throw between 35 and 40 pitches. The right-hander has been sidelined all season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in early June of last year. The general recovery process is about 12 to 14 months, so Smith-Shawver is right on track. We’d assume he gets sent to an affiliate at the beginning of July to continue his rehab, and he could be an option for Atlanta in August.