The Braves gave Nick Markakis the day off for Sunday’s finale in Miami, a needed break for the 35-year-old.
Markakis has sputtered in June, hitting .160 with a .502 OPS across seven games. Since May 18 when he was hitting .300, Markakis has slashed .182/.236/.273 with five extra-base hits and four RBIs in 19 games.
Markakis played in all 162 games a year ago, but the Braves vowed to get him more rest this season. Matt Joyce started in right field.
The Braves planned more rest for all their regulars, though utilityman Johan Camargo hasn’t played as much as anticipated (part of that is performance-based). Camargo and Charlie Culberson remain the team’s primary utility options, but Joyce hadn’t started since May 22.
