Lineup shakeup, pitcher bats eighth
Situation: The Braves had batted .183 during a six-game losing streak and totaled 11 runs over their past seven games before Monday's series opener against the Cardinals.
The play: Manager Fredi Gonzalez shook things up by batting the pitcher eighth, something he last did for five games in 2012. He started Ramiro Pena in place of struggling second baseman Dan Uggla for two of three games against the Cardinals, and moved Justin Upton from the fourth to the second spot in the order.
Result: Pena batted ninth and hit a home run and a double and the Braves had nine hits and three runs in the first game with the reconfigured lineup, but still lost 4-3. They snapped the streak Tuesday, then lost again 7-1 Wednesday. They hit .247 and scored six runs in three games against the Cardinals, after hitting .186 with 11 runs in the last seven games before the lineup changes.
Explanation: Gonzalez gave two reasons for the lineup changes: 1. The Braves had their best offensive stretch late last season after moving Justin Upton to the 2-hole behind Jason Heyward and, 2. Freddie Freeman is their best hitter and they wanted to keep him in the 3-hole so he could hit in the first inning, and theoretically have more chances to hit with runners on base later in the game with a position player batting ninth.
Floyd plugged into the starting rotation
Situation: Braves starting pitchers had the best ERA in the majors, and they weren't sure how to avoid disrupting the rotation when veteran starter Gavin Floyd had to be activated from the disabled list last Sunday because the 30-day limit was up on his rehab assignment.
The play: Because Ervin Santana had a bruised right thumb that swelled up in his previous start in Miami, the Braves decided to start Floyd in Santana's rotation spot on Tuesday and have Santana skip a turn to heal fully.
Result: Floyd, pitching one day shy of the one-year anniversary of his Tommy John elbow surgery, surpassed all expectations by limiting the Cardinals to six hits and one run in seven innings of a 2-1 Braves win that snapped their seven-game losing skid.
Explanation: Skipping Santana's turn, rather than pushing him back a day or two, was a luxury the Braves could afford because Floyd was ready. But now they faced another decision on what to do with the rotation with Santana returning and Gonzalez saying he doesn't want to send Floyd to the bullpen. They were expected to make a decision before the weekend, and sending Alex Wood to the bullpen looked like a distinct possibility.
