LOS ANGELES – Braves right fielder Jason Heyward was out of the lineup Thursday for the third consecutive game due to back stiffness. It wasn't surprising, after manager Fredi Gonzalez said Wednesday he'd probably give Heyward one extra day to rest after the issue subsided.
Gonzalez said Heyward’s condition had improved Wednesday and that he assumed that was the case again Thursday, when he made out the lineup before checking with the right fielder.
He didn’t want to leave it up to the player to decide whether he was ready, and preferred to take a cautious course with Heyward in hopes of preventing a lingering issue.
“I’m hoping we get him in the lineup this weekend,” said Gonzalez, whose Braves open a three-game series Friday at San Diego. “Maybe we’ll shoot for this weekend to give him a start or two, or maybe all three.”
Heyward said after Thursday’s game that he wouldn’t be in the lineup Friday but might return as soon as Saturday. He said his back had gotten better but was still a little sore Thursday when he got to the ballpark.
Heyward initially strained his lower back while chasing a foul ball on July 24. He played Friday and Saturday, rested Sunday, and tried to play Monday but came out of the game after one at-bat when his back failed to loosen up. He hasn’t played since.
Another reason not to bring Heyward back Thursday: Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw, winner of two of the past three Cy Young awards, was the starter for the series finale. Heyward’s .152 (15-for-99) average against left-handers was the lowest among NL qualifiers before Thursday.
Heyward also had a career-worst a .165 average (16-for-97) in 27 games against Los Angeles, with no home runs and 31 strikeouts.
