"Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez sat scuffling second baseman Dan Uggla for Tuesday night's opener against the Pirates.

It's the first time all season Uggla has been out of the lineup, but after going 2-for-21 (.095) in the first five games of the Braves' road trip tohis season average to .185, Uggla conceded a breather was good.

"I couldn't argue my way back into the lineup today," said Uggla, who talked to Gonzalez about it on the plane ride from Arizona on Sunday night. "It's one of those things where he could tell I was really frustrated, and he wanted to let me have a little break."

The fact that it came after an off day Monday and in a game the Braves already were playing without Nate McLouth and Jason Heyward, both of whom are on the disabled list, gives an indication of the depth of Uggla's slump.

He hit only .202 in April, in his first month as a Brave following his offseason trade and subsequent signing of a $62 million extension. He's traditionally a slow starter, but more than three weeks into May the "it'll come" argument has lost merit. His .185 average is third worst in the National League among qualified everyday players.

So Gonzalez is trying a mental break."