PHILADELPHA – The Braves used their 17th different lineup in the 17th game Saturday, and for only the second time this season someone other than Freddie Freeman was in the cleanup spot.
With the Braves hitting just .189 with six runs scored during a four-game losing skid, manager Fredi Gonzalez shook up the lineup (again) and had veteran Nick Markakis in the leadoff spot for the first time and Freeman in the 3-hole for just the second time this season.
Freeman hit third for all 162 games in 2014, but batted cleanup in 15 of his 16 starts this season before Saturday. He was 1-for-14 with one walk and seven strikeouts in the Braves’ four-game losing streak before Saturday, dropping his .233 and his OBP to .303 – 52 points below his career average and 61 points off his career OBP.
The Braves were 3-8 with a meager .216 batting average and 34 runs in their past 11 games, including two or fewer runs in five games.
“I think obviously we’re capable of being way better than this,” Freeman said after Friday’s 1-0 loss to the lowly Phillies, the first shutout of the season for the Braves. “It doesn’t help when your four hitter (Freeman) is just not doing anything right now, so hopefully I can pick it up here shortly.”
Markakis said Saturday that it was no time to panic.
“During the course of a season you’re going to have your ups and downs,” he said. “It’s a long season. It’s not going to be the last time. We’ve just got to stay positive, stay confident, and do what got us here. Just play baseball, play hard, and try to win every night.”
