CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Indians have dropped slumping slugger Edwin Encarnacion from the cleanup spot for the first time this season.
Encarnacion was set to bat fifth instead of fourth Monday night at home against Tampa Bay. He hit cleanup in the first 36 games.
Encarnacion has struggled since signing a three-year, $60 million contract with Cleveland. He is hitting .206 with five homers and 11 RBIs.
The 34-year-old Encarnacion hit a home run on opening day, but has yet to provide the production the Indians expected when they signed him in January. He hit 42 homers and drove in 127 runs for Toronto last year.
Encarnacion is stuck in an 0-for-12 slump. He's batting .094 (3-for-32) with six RBIs with runners in scoring position.
Indians manager Terry Francona says he's confident it's only a matter of time until Encarnacion starts producing.
"I'm telling you, he's going to be fine," Francona said. "I know it hasn't been his best month. He'll be just fine."
Carlos Santana is batting cleanup after being moved from leadoff to fifth over the weekend.
