Petey Halpin was back in center field Monday for Cleveland and batted ninth against the Twins, marking his fifth center-field start in the past six games.
Recent run in the lineup
The playing time has given Halpin a short-term foothold in the outfield. He has started four times in his last four starts, and in each of those games he collected exactly one hit while adding a pair of steals.
That type of usage points to a strong-side platoon role for Halpin right now, with Cleveland leaning on him while Angel Martinez is unavailable. The setup has allowed Halpin to stay in the lineup regularly, even if his spot is not necessarily locked in long term.
What comes next
Once Angel Martinez returns from the 10-day injured list, Halpin could be moved to the bench or demoted to Triple-A Columbus. For now, though, Monday's start suggests Cleveland is willing to keep giving him chances in center field while the opening remains there.
