Atlanta ? The Atlanta Braves are facing all sorts of problems in their quest to win a 14th straight division title.

The bullpen is a mess, largely because of deposed closer Dan Kolb. He already has lost four times and blown three save chances, prompting manager Bobby Cox to move the right-hander into middle relief – at least temporarily.

Then, Thursday, the Braves announced pitcher John Thomson would miss up to three months because of an injured finger, depriving the team of one of its most effective starters.

Thomson won’t need surgery, but it will be at least a month before he can begin rehabbing from a rare injury to his right middle finger. He has a partial tear to the area around the tendon flexor.

“The prognosis is he will miss two to three months,” general manager John Schuerholz said. “Of course, that’s devastating news.”

Even with all the problems, Schuerholz is convinced the Braves still are on course to win another division championship. They lead the NL East by a half-game heading into a three-game series at Boston, which wraps up a 12-game, 14-day road trip – the longest of the season.

“I’m not concerned about our team at all,” Schuerholz said Thursday, an off day for Atlanta. “We will right the ship, as we’ve always done. We’re going through some tough times, not only because of the bullpen but some key injuries in other areas. That’s what baseball is all about. You’ve got to manage your way through that.”

The Braves thought they could manage the move of John Smoltz back to the starting rotation, even though he had 144 saves during the last three years.

Kolb was acquired from Milwaukee, coming off a breakthrough season in which he had 39 saves and made the All-Star team. But he’s struggled for the Braves, finally forcing a change when he squandered another lead Tuesday.

Cox wants Kolb to use his time in middle relief to work with pitching coach Leo Mazzone – without the burden to trying to protect ninth-inning leads.