Jason Heyward was out of the Braves’ lineup Tuesday night, though manager Fredi Gonzalez said it was more about getting fourth outfielder Reed Johnson some at-bats than it was Heyward’s .083 batting average.
“We’ve only pinch-hit (Johnson) the last seven games,” Gonzalez said. “You know the way I like to roll — just give him four at-bats, keep him sharp, and give Jason a little breather.”
Heyward was 2-for-24 before Tuesday and got both hits (including a homer) in an April 3 game against Philadelphia.
“I’ve been a little tense, trying to be too fine,” said Heyward, who was 0-for-17 with two walks and five strikeouts in his past five games.
While Gonzalez did his postgame media session in the visiting manager’s office at Marlins Park late Monday night, Heyward could be seen through an office window, hitting in the indoor batting cage adjacent to the clubhouse. Just Heyward, hitting coach Greg Walker and assistant hitting coach Scott Fletcher were there.
“I went in the cage after the game last night, not an angry round (of batting practice), not a venting round,” Heyward said. “Just more of, ‘We’re getting close, let’s go see if we can feel right.’ Came out feeling better than I have in a long time.”
Heyward was asked if he thought it was just a small adjustment that was necessary to get him out of his funk.
“Definitely,” he said. “Just been a little tense. Last night, the past few days — I felt like Chicago did a pretty good job of keeping us off-balance and not throwing a lot of strikes. And then last night we do get some pitches to hit, and in trying to make sure I do that, I was trying to be too fine, instead of just being athletic. Be loose, be flexible, hit the ball. …
“Last night was one of those where, I’m not going to be complacent. I know it’s just starting out Week 2, but when it’s right there, when it’s that close, sometimes you just want to go out there and make sure. That’s what we did. ‘Let’s go in here and talk about it, feel it out, see what we can come away with.’ And we came away more than satisfied.”
Heyward was 0-for-8 against left-handers before Tuesday, when the Braves faced Marlins lefty Wade LeBlanc.
The Braves will face Marlins right-hander Alex Sanabia in the series finale Wednesday, then have a day off before opening a weekend series at Washington and facing Nationals lefty Ross Detwiler on Friday, followed by right-handers Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez.
Fredi Gonzalez said he wasn’t worried about his right fielder. He agreed with Heyward’s assessment of his swing.
“I think Jason is right there,” Gonzalez said. “I know he spent some time in the cage with Walk and Fletch last night after the game was over, and I think they got it figured out. They got it worked out. … He’s doing everything good, it was just a matter of, I think, changing his hand position a little bit to get a little bit more whip. I think he’ll be fine.”
Gattis to get more starts: Rookie slugger Evan Gattis is expected to start more games at catcher than veteran Gerald Laird while first baseman Freddie Freeman is on the disabled list, Gonzalez said Tuesday.
His reasoning is that Gattis provides a good replacement in the fourth spot in the lineup while Freeman is on the 15-day disabled list. Freeman strained an oblique muscle Saturday and can’t return from the DL before April 22.
“It’s something that we talked about as coaches,” Gonzalez said. “Until we start getting that offense clicking a little bit on all cylinders. … We were going every other (game) with Gerald and him (rotating starts). But maybe we got 2-to-1 now, or 3-to-1, with Gattis because he can fill that four-hole spot for you.
“Now, if all of a sudden you start cranking on all cylinders, then go back to every other one, that kind of stuff.”
Catcher Brian McCann opened the season on the DL recovering from shoulder surgery. He’s not expected to return before late April. At that point the Braves could keep Gattis as a third catcher/fifth outfielder an pinch-hitter.
“He can scare you a little bit,” Gonzalez said of Gattis’ power.
A few hours later, Gattis hit a two-run homer to center field in the first inning of Tuesday’s game against the Marlins, his second home run in his 16th major league at-bat.
Etc.: Justin Upton hit his sixth homer Monday, becoming the first major leaguer to hit six homers in his team's first seven games since the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez in 2007. … The Braves' bullpen allowed none of its 10 inherited runners to score before Tuesday, and the 1.64 bullpen ERA ranked second in the majors.
