DETROIT—For the second time this week, manager Brandon Hyde is starting Liván Soto at second base with Jackson Holliday on the bench. On Monday night in Boston, Soto started and Holliday came in after Emmanuel Rivera pinch-hit for him.
Holliday is batting .199 with five home runs and 20 RBIs and a .612 OPS since he was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on July 31st. He’s hitless in his last eight at-bats and just 5-for-35 (.143) in September. Holliday is hitting just .103 against left-handers.
“I’m just giving Jackson a little bit of a break,” Hyde said before Saturday night’s game against the Detroit Tigers. “This is more of a mental break. He’s 20 years old, AL East pennant race. Just want to let him relax for a night. Maybe be ready to get a big hit for us off the bench… Just trying to take some pressure off him.
“It’s a young player who’s got 170 at-bats in the big leagues and this is a tough level. This is a tough place to perform. This is a tough time of year. I talk to him a lot. The process is really good. He’s kept his head up. I think he’s handled everything incredibly well, especially for his age.”
Holliday has gotten some big hits — a grand slam on July 31st against Toronto and a pinch-hit, three-run double against Houston on August 24th.
“It’s more some adjustments in the box more of approach-wise than it is actual physical, learning lessons along the way,” Hyde said.
Holliday is playing more against left-handers than he would if infielder Jordan Westburg were available. Westburg is on the injured list with a broken right hand. Ramón Urías is also on the injured list with a sprained ankle.
“Because of some of the guys being out, some guys have played and faced certain matchups that maybe they wouldn’t have if you had your entire roster,” Hyde said. “That’s the way it is. Injuries happen. You have to be ready to play all the time.”