Braves’ Olivera platooning now, will be lineup regular in 2016

MIAMI – Hector Olivera has been used as a platoon player in recent weeks, and the Braves’ ballyhooed Cuban third baseman was out of lineup again Saturday against Marlins left-hander Justin Nicolino.

But just because manager Fredi Gonzalez again sat Olivera in favor of Adonis Garcia against a lefty, fans shouldn’t assume the Braves and Gonzalez have any intention of deploying Olivera in a similar manner next season. Because they do not.

+Hector Olivera was out of the lineup again Saturday against a Marlins left-hander. But in 2016 and beyond, the Braves plan ... read more“Not at all,” Gonzalez said before Saturday’s game. “Today we had scheduled that he wasn’t going to play. He came out and…