WASHINGTON (AP) — Slumping Atlanta Braves slugger Freddie Freeman is not in the starting lineup for Thursday's game against the Washington Nationals.
Freeman is batting .080 (2 for 25) as the No. 3 hitter for the Braves, who have lost eight straight games to open the season.
The first baseman says he's completely healthy, but was notified Wednesday night by manager Fredi Gonzalez that he would be given at least the start of Thursday's series finale off.
Freeman is a career .283 hitter and has 103 home runs since breaking into the majors in 2010. In 2015, he batted .276 with 18 home runs in 118 games, missing substantial time in June and July because of a wrist injury.