Jason Heyward will return to the leadoff spot Wednesday and manager Fredi Gonzalez said he intends to use him there for a while, David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Heyward will return to the leadoff spot Wednesday and manager Fredi Gonzalez said he intends to use him there for a while, David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Analysis:

Gonzalez has mercifully pulled the plug on B.J. Upton in the leadoff spot, allowing Heyward to return to the top spot after two months or so in the five-hole. Tommy La Stella is out of the lineup Wednesday but Gonzalez said he will likely be moved down in the order starting Thursday, so as to not have three lefty bats in a row atop the order. Heyward has hit .254/.334/.384 with eight homers from the leadoff spot this season.