Redmond weighing when to give Stanton a breather

MIAMI -- In the top of the eighth inning of a 9-3 win against the Braves on April 30, the Marlins substituted Reed Johnson in right field for Giancarlo Stanton.

Johnson had one at-bat that day, and Stanton was rested two innings.

It's been the one little breather Stanton has had this season.

The 24-year-old slugger has been a mainstay and a force in the middle of the lineup, pacing the National League in home runs with 10 and leading the Majors in RBIs with 37 entering Tuesday.

Miami is approaching the middle of a stretch of playing 20 straight days, and manager Mike Redmond is weighing when to give Stanton a day off.

The team is rolling, and Stanton is a big reason why, so taking him out of the lineup is difficult.

"Any time you've got a guy in the middle of the order doing what he's doing, it's tough," Redmond said. "I haven't done it yet. But that's not to say it won't happen here soon, just to give him a day, whether he wants it or not."

Redmond is trying to give his regulars some time off.

On Monday, for instance, center fielder Marcell Ozuna didn't start, but he ended up playing.

With Wednesday being an afternoon game against the Mets, Stanton could get the day off.

"We'll see when that day comes," Redmond said. "With 20 straight, I've talked about giving some guys a few days off here. We'll give guys some days over the course of this upcoming road trip."