Braves Send Out Depth Pieces in Lineup Behind Debuting Starter Chris Sale

The Atlanta Braves are testing some things today. 

We already know the position player lineup is set, with yesterday's Grapefruit League game a potential Opening Day lineup preview, but there's several questions to be answered about the configuration of the bench and which players are in the majors or start the season in AAA Gwinnett. 

And today, the team starts to hopefully get some answers, as today's lineup behind debuting starter Chris Sale is full of potential depth pieces, customary for a road matchup in spring training. 

Here's how Atlanta will line up on Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton, FL:

CF J.P. Martínez
2B David Fletcher
C Sean Murphy
DH Jordan Luplow
RF Eli White
3B Phillip Evans
LF Luke Williams
SS Andrew Velazquez
1B Ryan Casteel

SP Chris Sale

It's an interesting outfield configuration, with NRI Jordan Luplow at designated hitter and a bench piece from last year, Luke Williams, playing left field. 

Williams has outfield experience in the past, getting 155 MLB innings there in 2022 during his time with the Miami Marlins and San Francisco Giants, but he played a grand total of one inning in left field combined between his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Braves last season. 

Reading into the tea leaves, we've discussed what Atlanta's bench might look like to open 2024, with the knowledge that Travis d'Arnaud and Luis Guillorme are locks and Forrest Wall is the likely 3rd player on the bench in a designated "speed and defense" role. Does Atlanta perhaps intend to give Williams the final bench spot as an infield/outfield flex player? His lineup positioning in left field may be a sign that Atlanta wants confirmation he can still cover both corner infield and corner outfield roles as they work to figure out what the four player bench looks like on Opening Day. 

As is standard for home team lineups in spring training, the Pirates are going with mostly MLB regulars to open the contest: