WASHINGTON – Left fielder Justin Upton was out of the Braves lineup for a second consecutive game Thursday after still feeling some effects from what the team believes could be fluid in his inner ear.
Upton, who left Tuesday’s game after feel lightheaded and dizzy, didn’t play Wednesday and had hoped to return to the lineup for the series opener against the Nationals Thursday. But when he took some swings and ran about eight sprints prior to the team’s batting practice, he still felt some lingering effects of the condition.
“I woke up this morning feeling a little better,” he said. “And I went and talked to Skip (manager Fredi Gonzalez); he wants to give me another day. I want to get back on the field as soon as possible, I just don’t know how it’s going to be. I also want to be at full capacity, helping the team, when I do get back out there.”
Gonzalez asked Upton how he felt immediately after his light workout Thursday afternoon at Nationals Park.
“He’s feeling better, so that’s a positive,” Gonzalez said. “He got here early. He ran and took some BP. Just doesn’t feel right. When you’re dealing with that dizziness and stuff like that… But he did assure me that he’s getting better. So we’ll try it again tomorrow.
“You know how you get fluid in your ear? I don’t think it’s a full-blown infection; I haven’t heard that. He might have some water in the ear. We’ve all been there where you just don’t feel right.”
Upton and his brother, Braves center fielder B.J. Upton, are from nearby Southeastern Virginia.
Justin Upton hit .188) with one homer and 19 strikeouts in his past 16 games, but had a .524 average (11-for-21) with two homers and five RBIs in six games against the Nationals this season. He hopes to be back in the lineup Friday or Saturday.
“I got a good sweat going” Thursday afternoon, he said. “Feeling better, better than I did the other day. So lots of positives all the way around. I came back in and told (Gonzalez) how I felt after running. I obviously told him the truth – I’m not 100 percent yet. But he feels confident rolling our bench guys out there in my spot, so another day will be good.”
Ryan Doumit was in left field Thursday, his sixth start at the position in 72 games. The only other Brave to start a game in left field this season was Jordan Schafer, who was in the lineup for one game at the position.
