Brian Snitker has used five different lineups in five games as Braves interim manager with no set order against left-handers or right-handers.
Snitker said that’s the way he plans to do it as he tries to find the right mix.
“I think it depends on how your team is put together and the makeup of it,” Snitker said before the Braves faced the Phillies on Saturday. “For what we have here, it seems to fit with what we’ve been doing the last few days. It kind of feels right.”
First baseman Freddie Freeman and right fielder Nick Markakis, the team’s two best hitters, have been constants in Snitker’s lineups. Freeman has batted third like he has for all but four of 41 games, but Snitker moved Markakis to the No. 4 slot Friday and had him fifth Saturday behind platoon outfielder Jeff Francoeur vs. Phillies left-hander Adam Morgan.
Since batting fifth in the order for the first three games of the season, Markakis hadn't hit lower than second. Markakis hit his first home run of the season during Friday's series opener while Freeman hit a pair of homers in front of him.
“Nick swung the bat really well yesterday and if we can get him going like that maybe he can drive some runs in,” Snitker said. “I kind of like the way we got away from the strict left-hand type mix and mixed it up a little bit. See what happens.”
The Braves faced their third left-handed starter in five games on Saturday, and Snitker used the third different lineup. Some of that shuffle can be attributed to rookie outfielder Mallex Smith getting a rare start against a lefty on Thursday and shortstop Erick Aybar missing Thursday's game because of a medical mishap.
But Saturday’s lineup looked much different than the Braves’ other game against a lefty, Wednesday in Pittsburgh. In addition to batting Markakis fifth, Snitker had third baseman Chase d’Arnaud hit leadoff instead of eighth; Gordon Beckham at second base instead of Daniel Castro and hitting third, and Ender Inciarte dropped from No. 1 to No. 7.
“Trying different things, working things out,” Snitker said. “(I) bounce it off the coaching staff and get their opinion on things. I have my own ideas. We will try it and see. Something might start clicking and maybe we go with it.”
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