With Ender Inciarte back in the lineup and hitting second the Braves sometimes will send out a lineup with five left-handed hitters in a row at the top (and lefty Mallex Smith hitting ninth). That's an unusual configuration because managers typically don't like to leave the lineup vulnerable against tough left-handed relief pitcher late in games.
But Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said he wants Nick Markakis hitting No. 3 and Inciarte hitting second because it should provide more RBI chances for No. 3 hitter Freddie Freeman. Entering Thursday Freeman led the team with a .289 average and .500 slugging percentage but had just 10 RBIs as 57 of his 133 plate appearances came with runners on base.
“We may be the only team on any given day that has five left-handers lined up but we feel like those are our two best hitters, Inciarte and Markakis,” Gonzalez said. “Lefties don’t bother them that much. I know there is a little split difference but run them out there.”
Entering Wednesday Markakis was hitting .293 against right-handed hitters and .285 vs. left-handers over his career. For Inciarte the career right/left split was .305/.253.
Gonzalez said the advantages of having his best hitters hit high in the lineup for most of the game outweigh any drawbacks from the lefty-heavy lineup facing left-handed specialists late in games.
“You want to beat the starter,” he said. “The way some of these bullpen are set up, if you are down in the seventh or eighth they are bringing in some artillery. You want to beat the starter so they bring in the mop-up guy.”
