Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez acknowledged Friday that he’s thought about moving hot-hitting rookie second baseman Tommy La Stella up to the second spot in the Braves batting order. But he’s hesitant to do so because it would mean he’d have three left-handers hitting first, second and third, with leadoff man Jason Heyward, followed by La Stella and Freddie Freeman.
Gonzalez doesn’t want to move Heyward or Freeman, who have hit in those spots all season.
“It’s a tough fit,” Gonzalez said. “Not that I haven’t thought about it, but it’s a tough fit because of those three left-handers. He’s doing fine down there in the seventh hole.”
La Stella was hitting .378 in his first 13 major league games entering the weekend series against the Angels, including seven multi-hit games. The right-handed hitting B.J. Upton remained in the No. 2 hole Friday night. Upton is hitting .210 on the season.
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