SS Aybar will play some at second

Daniel Castro will get work at shortstop to give infield experience.

When shortstop Erick Aybar was struggling in the field, manager Fredi Gonzalez contemplated moving him to second base in favor of another option. Now that Aybar has improved on defense, Gonzalez said he’s not concerned about making a permanent move.

But Gonzalez said he still plans to play Aybar at second base occasionally, with Daniel Castro, a strong defensive player, getting more time at shortstop.

“I think Aybar is OK over there (at shortstop),” Gonzalez said. “He’s not (Andrelton) Simmons, but who is Simmons?”

Aybar has been getting practice at second base in anticipation of playing there more. He played second base regularly early in his career with the Angels.

In his first four games with the Braves, Aybar committed two errors in 20 chances. He hadn’t committed an error in 24 chances since, entering Saturday’s game against the Mets.

Castro was in the lineup at second against the Mets on Saturday for his fifth start in nine games since being called up from Triple-A Gwinnett on April 13. He has no errors in 30 chances this season while splitting time between second (20 chances), shortstop (five chances) and third (four).

Last season with the Braves, Castro committed one error in 104 chances while playing second, shortstop and third. — MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM

Lefty tweets the news: Matt Marksberry was so excited about being called up from Double-A Mississippi that the left-handed reliever couldn’t resist telling his Twitter followers that he was driving to Atlanta Saturday morning. He didn’t have to say what for. “Maybe to get a haircut,” said Gonzalez, who got a chuckle over Marksberry’s social-media proficiency and the fact that he, in effect, announced he’d been called up hours before the team announced it.

Marksberry, 25, took the roster spot of right-hander Casey Kelly, who pitched three solid innings in his Braves debut Friday and was optioned back to Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday.

Marksberry provides the Braves a third left-hander in the bullpen to go with struggling veteran Eric O’Flaherty and rookie Hunter Cervenka, but that probably won’t last long. When the Braves bring up a starter from Triple-A today to pitch the series finale against the Mets, they’ll likely send down a left-handed reliever to open a roster spot

The Braves wanted a fresh arm in the bullpen for Saturday’s game, and preferred it be a lefty because O’Flaherty was unavailable after pitching an inning Friday in his third appearance in three days. O’Flaherty has an 8.10 ERA and .400 opponents’ average in 10 appearances this season, and lefties are 4 for 12 against him with two doubles and a homer.

— DAVID O’BRIEN

Gonzalez OK with Smith: Rookie Mallex Smith isn’t producing at the plate so far and has had a few misadventures in the field. But Gonzalez said he doesn’t believe Smith has been overmatched at the plate and is an advocate for the organization’s top outfield prospect to remain with the big-league club.

“I think he’s OK,” Gonzalez said. “Obviously I have been one of his biggest allies for him to stay here. I feel this will be better for him than going down. We have options, but I’ve been one of his biggest supporters and backers for him to stay up here.”

Smith, who bats left, wasn’t in the lineup against Mets lefthander Steven Matz on Saturday. Since making his big-league debut April 11, Smith has made 10 starts as Ender Inciarte works his way back from a hamstring injury.

Smith, 22, has had some good moments at the plate, most notably a go-ahead RBI single in the 10th inning during a victory against the Marlins. But entering Saturday, Smith was batting .162 with a .262 on-base percentage and 15 strikeouts in 42 plate appearances.

Smith also made two key fielding miscues against the Dodgers. He contributed to a two-base error when he failed to yield to right fielder Jeff Francoeur and crashed into him on a fly ball. Smith also took a bad break before dropping the ball on a diving catch attempt, leading to the go-ahead run in the 10th inning Thursday.

— MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM