Shortstop Wilmer Flores is back in the starting line-up on Saturday and batting in the eighth spot in the order.
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Ruben Tejada who’s been the backup shortstop to Wilmer Flores for most of the season, has started in the last three games because the team want to recharge Flores who has looked tired.
“They all thought Flo was starting to run out of gas a little bit,” Terry Collins told reporters. “So I said, ‘You know what? We’ll play Tejada for a few games and see if we can get Flo’s energy back, because his bat is such a big weapon.”
Flores was one of the team’s hottest hitters in August when hit .347 with a .943 OPS during one 21-game stretch that month. Flores also started almost every day that month and also through mid September.
Tejada is considered the better defender, but Flores has the bigger bat with more power and he has worked hard to improve his defense.
“If he’s tired, he’s not going to hit,” said Collins regarding Flores. “That’s why we’ve got to make sure he does. Right now, we’re going to play Tejada.”
In 12 games over the last 15 days, Tejada is 9-for-25 with two doubles and two RBI, however he went 0-for-4 on Friday night.
Flores, 23, is batting .264 in his first full season, with 22 doubles, 16 home runs and 59 RBIs – including five game-winning RBIs – in 504 plate appearances with a .708 OPS.
