CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Indians have dropped slumping slugger Edwin Encarnacion from the cleanup spot for the first time this season.
Encarnacion was set to bat fifth instead of fourth Monday night at home against Tampa Bay. He hit cleanup in the first 36 games.
Encarnacion has struggled since signing a three-year, $60 million contract with Cleveland. He is hitting .206 with five homers and 11 RBI.
The 34-year-old Encarnacion hit a home run on opening day, but has yet to provide the production the Indians expected when they signed him in January.