NEW YORK -- New York Mets manager Terry Collins offered a pair of reasons for starting John Mayberry Jr. in the leadoff spot for the first time in the outfielder's major league career on Wednesday:
Mayberry is batting .455 (5-for-11) with three doubles and one homer in his career against Atlanta Braves left-handed starter Eric Stults, so Collins wants to maximize Mayberry's at-bats.
Collins did not want to disrupt the lineup. And since Mayberry was filling in for customary leadoff hitter Curtis Granderson, Collins just placed Mayberry in the No. 1 slot.
Granderson was coming off a three-hit, four-RBI game on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Daniel Murphy also sits Wednesday. Collins said Murphy could use a day off even with Monday's team off-day, and sitting him against a left-hander made sense.
