PT TOMORROW: NL East—La Stella moving up in the order

Atlanta Braves

We have previously discussed  the possibility of Tommy La Stella (2B, ATL) potentially being a good fit toward the top of the batting order. The team gave him a brief five-game stint in the leadoff spot (2 H and 2 BB in 22 PA) before moving him back to seventh in the lineup. As we said then, it may have been a little too much too soon for the rookie who had appeared in just 18 major league games at that time. The 25-year-old has excelled batting seventh (.373/.448/.473 with 18 K in 110 AB), so manager Fredi Gonzalez has decided to move him up in the lineup.

Andrelton Simmons (SS, ATL), who had been batting second of late, has been dropped back to eighth in the order. The defensive wizard did a solid job in the role, but...

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