Braves slugger Evan Gattis, winner of consecutive NL rookie of the month awards, was out of the lineup for the second straight day Tuesday. Manger Fredi Gonzalez said Gattis would start the final game of the home stand Thursday against the Pirates.
Entering Tuesday Gattis was second on the team with 12 home runs and 32 RBIs while ranking sixth in at-bats (145) . Gattis has played catcher, first base and the left field but Gonzalez said it’s still tough to find room in the lineup for him.
Catcher Brian McCann and first baseman Freddie Freeman have been Atlanta’s most consistent hitters. Justin Upton is a mainstay in left field. Gonzalez said outfielders B.J. Upton and Jason Heyward are showing signs of coming out of hitting slumps so he wants to keep getting them at-bats.
“It’s not easy getting (Gattis) in there,” Gonzalez said.
Beachy update: Braves right-hander Brandon Beachy thought his third minor-league rehabilitation start wasn't as good as his second but said that's been the "standard" pattern during his comeback from Tommy John surgery.
“When I do something new and it feels really good, then I kind of take a small step back and it takes a little time to get back to that point and then I move forward,” he said. “It’s settling in, I guess.”
Beachy pitched five innings for Double-A Mississippi Tuesday and allowed six hits and three earned runs with a walk and four strikeouts. He threw 80 pitches with 55 strikes.
“I was a little tight,” Beachy said. “I loosened up, and the last couple innings felt pretty good but I really struggled to throw effective curve balls and sliders early on.”
Beachy is scheduled to start for Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday and then make a final rehab start with Double-A Mississippi next week before re-joining the Braves. Gonzalez said the Braves are targeting the June 18 doubleheader against the Mets for Beachy’s return.
