After 584 games in the majors, Pedro Alvarez is going to try something new. According to Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, he’ll make his first career start at first base this evening against the Braves.
Alvarez recently lost his starting third base job after committing 25 errors, most of them from his throwing. He began taking grounders at first base last weekend in preparation for a move across the diamond and will now get his first test in game action.
Gaby Sanchez still figures to get most of the at-bats against southpaws at first base, but Alvarez’s move to first will likely cut into Ike Davis’ playing time, though one could argue that it’s not deserved. While he hasn’t shown as much power, Davis has a higher OPS (.726) than Alvarez (.706) this season and has outproduced him against right-handers, as well.