ATLANTA -- Slumping All-Star catcher Russell Martin was scratched from the Dodgers' lineup minutes before batting practice on Saturday as manager Joe Torre sent out yet another different squad to face the Braves.

Martin was in the original lineup, batting sixth. The revised lineup had Gary Bennett catching and batting eighth.

Martin is batting .196 with one homer, five RBIs and 12 strikeouts in 56 at-bats. Last year, he was the Silver Slugger Award-winning catcher with a .293 average, 19 homers, 87 RBIs and 89 strikeouts in 540 at-bats. Last April, he hit .314 with 18 RBIs. Of the Dodgers' other 16 games, Martin started 15.

"I guess I get a day off," said Martin. "I'll go run some sprints. I've got all kinds of energy."

After Friday night's game -- in which Martin went 0-for-3 with a walk, a caught stealing, a throwing error and a passed ball -- Torre said Martin's swing was OK, but at times the All-Star catcher was trying too hard to make things happen. Torre repeated that message when explaining the late lineup change.

"I know Grady [Little, Torre's predecessor] had trouble knowing when to rest him, if ever, and I certainly empathize with those decisions because the kid is pretty special," said Torre. "He's fighting himself. It looked like he was coming around at home, but last night a few things happened. The steal in the second, he was trying to ignite us. He has to understand the game has to come to him instead of forcing it."

Torre said Martin was due for a game off with the upcoming schedule that includes a game on Tuesday night in Cincinnati, a flight to the West Coast and a Wednesday night game in Los Angeles. None of the explanations was well received.

"He wasn't happy -- I didn't expect him to be," said Torre. "Since the spring I've been trying to find a formula for resting him and he didn't want to have the conversation. It's all a feel with the days off. If you want him in August and September, it's important to do that."

Torre said the original lineup that included Martin was written on Friday night.