Slumping Carlos Beltran gets a rest

Carlos Beltran said he feels as bad as he looks at the plate. "I don't feel good right now, man," he told reporters before Saturday night's game against the A's.

Beltran, 4-for-30 in eight games since coming off the disabled list, was given the night off by Joe Girardi.

"He's fighting through it," Girardi said. "He's had some productive hits for us. But we've talked about it; it could take him some time to get his timing going. He's played every day since he's been back, so I just figured I'd give him a day."

Beltran, 37, said the bone spur that put him on the DL May 13 occasionally feels "a little bit tight" but that there's no consistency in it. "Some days I feel better, then the next day back to not feeling good," he said. "I just need to stick with the plan."

Beltran played catch for the third time in four days Saturday but still has "a ways to go" before being ready to play in the field, Girardi said. "We've talked about taking it slow, not being in a rush," he said.

Roberts 'beat up'

Girardi said Brian Roberts is "a little bit beat up" and planned to sit the 36-year-old second baseman Saturday night and Sunday. With Monday an off day, it would amount to a three-day break for Roberts, who fouled a ball off his right knee Friday night.

"He's hit a ball off that knee a couple of times. It's kind of sore," Girardi said. "I'm thinking I might give him today and tomorrow and see if we can kind of clear it up."

Solarte struggling

Girardi gave Yangervis Solarte, in a 4-for-21 slide and hitless in his last 12 at-bats, a day off Friday.

"I think it will help him," he said. "I think a lot of times when you're struggling, guys can benefit from an off day where they can just kind of turn their mind off a little bit and just relax and try to regroup."

Solarte started at second base Saturday night and batted eighth.