Lineup, how to watch Braves at Rays in spring training

The Atlanta Braves head north to St. Petersburg for a Grapefruit League matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays this afternoon.

Normally a 15-minute trip from the Braves complex in North Port, lingering damage to the Port Charlotte spring training complex from Hurricane Ian forced the Rays to play their home games 90 minutes away in the big league park, Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.

Here's how the Braves will line up for the contest:

Morton on the mound!#BravesST pic.twitter.com/UqB5wnnd1H
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) March 16, 2023

It's a lineup decidely lacking on regulars, as is characteristic of many road spring training matchups.

As we discussed this morning in our 26-man roster projection, there's a lot of sorting to still figure out in the outfield, with two potential spots available on the bench. All three of today's outfielders, Eli White, Jordan Luplow, and Sam Hilliard are playing in today's matchup.

Marcell Ozuna is the most traveled veteran this spring, in the lineup in almost every single road matchup so far. Playing in nine games so far, he's batting .321/.367/.464 as he attempts to return from two seasons of inconsistent play, injury, and off-the-field issues. He has two years and $32 million remaining on the four-year contract he signed after his phenomenal 2020 season, which saw him earn the NL Silver Slugger at Designated Hitter after leading the National League with 18 homeruns, 56 RBIs, and 145 total bases in the shortened season.

Starting for the Braves is veteran Charlie Morton, on the final year of his current two year, $40 million deal he signed entering the 2022 season. His performance slipped a bit last year, his age 38 season, as he was hampered over the offseason by recovery of the broken leg he suffered in the World Series. The Braves hold a $20 million club option for 2024 with no buyout required, a contract virtually guaranteed to be picked up if Morton returns to historic late-career performance.

Today's game is not televised by the Braves, but the audio can be heard on WIFN 1340 AM/103.7FM in Atlanta and online at MLB.com. Florida residents in the broadcast area can catch the game on Bally Sports Sun, home of the Rays.

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Atlanta Braves 26-man roster projection

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