Mattingly may hit Stanton leadoff with No. 60 in sight

In eight seasons with the Miami Marlins, Giancarlo Stanton has never hit leadoff. That may change this weekend, though.

With Stanton sitting one home run shy of 60, the illustrious single-season mark reached by just five players in MLB history, Marlins manager Don Mattingly said he'll consider bumping his slugger into the leadoff spot to possibly get him a few more at-bats over the final two games of the regular season.

"I'd really like it myself, to see him get to the round number at least," Mattingly told ESPN. "You know, the number was 61 for a long time, and I'd love to see him put a couple up to see what it looks like. It's a big number, it's kind of fun, it's kind of incredible to watch that many homers in one season from one guy. It's just different."

Stanton, the first player to clobber 59 homers in a season since 2001, hit in his customary No. 2 spot against the Atlanta Braves on Friday night, picking up a single and a double in four at-bats at Marlins Park. On Saturday, the four-time All-Star will vie for No. 60 against right-hander Lucas Sims, who owns a 4.85 ERA - and has allowed eight homers - in nine starts and four relief appearances with the Braves this year.

"It's one of those storylines for our club," Mattingly said. "Once you fell out of the race, you look at some of the individual stuff. I think you're obviously more aware."

In addition to shattering his previous career high for homers, Stanton also set new personal bests this year in WAR (7), OPS (1.014), adjusted OPS (167), doubles (32), runs (123), RBIs (130), and games played (157).