PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates gave center fielder Nate McLouth a night off in their game with the Atlanta Braves on Saturday night. Newly acquired Jason Michaels was penciled in the lineup in center.

McLouth had started in all 35 games to this point and was batting .315 with nine home runs and 29 RBIs.

"I don't know if it's a mental break," Pirates manager John Russell said. "He's played every day. He's played hard, and when you play 162 games -- I just felt like it was the time to let him relax a little bit. We've got two day games and a road trip, and I just felt like tonight would be a nice time to give him a day off."

Russell felt comfortable inserting Michaels in center field.

"I saw him play center a lot when he was with the Phillies," Russell explained. "He's a good outfielder and he gets good reads and he works very hard at it. He's a student of the game, and he's capable of playing all three outfield positions. He gives us the ability that when McLouth needs a day off -- we feel confident that he can pick us up."