The Braves' Opening Day lineup is set, with a few intriguing decisions and notable absences. The most prominent absence is that of Ronald Acuña Jr., who will have to wait a little longer to return from his rehab assignment. While his return was anticipated for Friday's series opener against the Orioles, the team has yet to announce his return, and he's not in the starting lineup.
The Braves' lineup is largely unchanged from Thursday's game against the Padres, with Drake Baldwin taking on the designated hitter role after catching the previous game. The bottom of the order sees some interesting changes, with Eli White replacing Mike Yastrzemski in right field and hitting seventh, Joey Bart catching and hitting eighth, and Jorge Mateo making his first appearance since last Friday. Mateo's inclusion gives Jim Jarvis a well-deserved day off, and with Ha-Seong Kim's return on the horizon, the Braves are giving Mateo a chance to play against his former team, the Orioles.
The Braves' lineup against the Orioles' starter, Trevor Rogers, features some interesting matchups. While Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley, the veterans of the lineup, have faced Rogers a decent amount, with Albies boasting a .320 average and Riley a .217 average, Matt Olson has struggled against the southpaw, with just a .063 batting average. However, Mauricio Dubón and Michael Harris II have shown success against Rogers in smaller sample sizes, with Dubón hitting .333 and Harris .400.
The Orioles' lineup also features some intriguing decisions, with Taylor Ward given an off day in the field and Dylan Beavers moving into his spot in the field and leadoff spot. Tyler O'Neill, who typically hits cleanup for Baltimore, is out of the lineup, and Chadwick Tromp, who started the season with the Braves, is now in his fourth game with the Orioles, going 2-for-8 with two singles, a run, and an RBI.
The Braves' starter, Grant Holmes, has made just one start against the Orioles, and it's no surprise that Pete Alonso, the only member of the Baltimore roster with more than three career bats against him, is in the lineup. Jackson Holliday, who had a great game against Holmes last July, is also in the lineup, with a .467 batting average and a 1.222 OPS against the right-hander.
The Braves look to keep the good vibes rolling with their Opening Day lineup, and with a few interesting decisions and notable absences, it promises to be an intriguing series.
