ATLANTA -- Having dealt with plenty of injuries this season, the Atlanta Braves vowed to move on after losing Jason Heyward. 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." Authentic Chris Kaman Jersey . Mats Zuccarello and Derek Stepan scored shootout goals, and backup goalie Cam Talbot earned his second win in two nights as the Rangers shook off a late tying tally and beat the Maple Leafs 2-1 Monday night. Clyde Drexler Blazers Jersey . According to a report from the Winnipeg Free Press, the Bombers will name Acting GM Kyle Walters to the post full time. http://www.theblazersteamshop.com/Customized/ .Y. - Jerome Samson scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the St. Damian Lillard Jersey . -- Patrick Reed got an early start in golf. Clyde Drexler Jersey . LOUIS -- Lance Lynn was one of the more enthusiastic participants as the St. ATLANTA -- Melky Cabrera had three hits, including a two-run single, and four Toronto pitchers combined on a four-hitter to lead the Blue Jays past the Atlanta Braves, 3-0 on Wednesday night. Last-place Toronto went with a pitcher-by-committee approach to fill a hole in the rotation. Esmil Rogers lasted 3 1-3 innings in his first start since 2011, and two pitchers just up from the minors shut down the Braves. Juan Perez (1-0) went 2 2-3 innings, Neil Wagner got through the seventh and eighth, and Casey Janssen earned his 11th save with a 1-2-3 ninth. Meanwhile, Atlanta starter Kris Medlen (1-6) took a liner off the left leg in the second and didnt return the next inning because of a contusion to his upper calf. He is expected to make his next start. Cabrera led off the game with a single and wound up scoring Torontos first run on a fielders choice grounder by J.P. Arencibia. With one out in the second, Emilio Bonifacio lined one off the back of Medlens leg, reaching on the infield single. The Braves trainer came out, and Medlen walked gingerly around the mound before deciding to stay in the game. That mightve been a mistake. Munenori Kawasaki walked, Rogers bunted the runners over and Cabrera singled to left to drive in two more runs. Medlen finished the frame but didnt return, having allowed four hits, a walk and all three Toronto runs in the shortest start of his career. Rogers had pitched 22 games in relief for the Blue Jays this season. He gave them just what they wanted, surrendering three hits and two walks before manager John Gibboons lifted the right-hander in the fourth with two runners aboard.dddddddddddd Perez escaped the jam by retiring Juan Francisco on a popup, then striking out B.J. Upton, who has grown so frustrated during a season-long slump that he slung his bat into the dirt and slammed down his helmet with both hands, bouncing it high in the air. Upton had plenty of company. Younger brother Justin fanned three times and the Braves finished with 11 strikeouts on the night, the 24th time in 52 games theyve reached double figures in that category. Appropriately, Brian McCann whiffed to end the game. The 34-year-old Perez earned his second win in the big leagues, the first coming on July 8, 2011, with Philadelphia. He was called up from Triple-A Buffalo before the game as the Blue Jays made a flurry of moves to deal with their injury-plagued pitching. After Medlen departed, four Atlanta relievers shut down Toronto the rest of the way. But it didnt matter on an otherwise grim night for the home team, which made two errors and squandered a sure double play when Andrelton Simmons dropped a line drive, though he was able to throw out the hitter at first. Notes: Rogers most recent start came with the Colorado Rockies in 2011. ... The Blue Jays left 10 runners on base. ... B.J. Uptons average dropped to .146 -- one of three Atlanta regular hitting below .200. He is joined by Jason Heyward (.152) and Dan Uggla (.186). ... The Braves activated RHP Jordan Walden off the disabled list before the game and optioned RHP Cory Rasmus to Triple-A Gwinnett. Cheap Jerseys ' ' '