Christian Bethancourt is out of the lineup Friday against the Phillies.

Bethancourt is out of the lineup Friday against the Phillies.

Analysis:

A.J. Pierzynski will handle catching duties for a third straight game and for the fifth time in the team's last seven games. It would seem the 38-year-old Pierzynski, who is 11-for-27 with three homers so far this season, has usurped Bethancourt as the primary option for Atlanta. Bethancourt is just 4-for-30 (.133 average) with two walks in the early going.