Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Shin-Soo Choo is in the midst of a career-best season, but he’s getting the night off.
The Cincinnati Reds center fielder has struggled against left-handed pitching this season and won’t get the chance to face New York Mets lefty Jonathon Niese at Citi Field tonight.
Choo is replaced by rookie Derrick Robinson who will hit lead off and play center field.
Choo is hitting .303/.459/.539 with nine home runs and 19 RBI in 145 at-bats this season. However, he hasn’t fared well against lefty starters, who have struck him out in over 20% of his at-bats.
In 49 at-bats against lefties, Choo is hitting just .224, but has still managed an impressive .415 on-base percentage. Just one of his nine home runs this season have come against a lefty. The South Korean native is hitting just .243 against lefties – compared to .311 against righties – during his eight-year career.
Niese has hardly been dominant against left-handed hitters who are hitting .279 in 43 at-bats against him this season.
Meanwhile, Robinson will get just his second start of the season in center field. He has nine hits in 27 at-bats for the Reds this season and has proven to be a valuable pinch-hitter off the bench.
Choo is available tonight as a pinch-hitter and could be used in the late-innings should the situation call for it.
The Reds, who took the first game of the series 4-3 last night, send right-hander Mike Leake to the mound against Niese at 7:10 ET.
Jon Krouner is the New York Giants writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @jkrouner ”Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+
