The Braves tried a new lineup mix for Sunday’s finale against the Padres.
Second baseman Ozzie Albies is resting for the first time this season. The move gives him consecutive off days, and three in a five day span with no games Monday and Thursday.
Albies, who leads National League second baseman All-Star voting, hit a wall recently. He’s batting .172 (17-for-99) over his last 23 games.
The 21-year-old has hit first or second in every game this season. Albies has a .236 average with a .287 on-base percentage in 174 plate appearances as a lead-off man.
Shortstop Dansby Swanson led off for the second time in his career. He did so once during his late-season promotion in 2016, going 0-for-4 with a walk.
Swanson has mostly hit seventh or eighth, with his most success coming in the 6-hole (.349 average with a .391 OBP). He’s hit second in 10 games, slashing .233/.233/.295 in 43 plate appearances.
Left fielder Charlie Culberson hit second. He’s hit .321 since the beginning of May, and his homer Saturday proved the difference in a 1-0 victory.
Culberson has hit second 14 times in his career, producing a .143 OBP in 29 plate appearances.
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