Getty
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – JULY 08: Coach Walt Weiss #4 of the Atlanta Braves during the MLB game at Chase Field on July 08, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Braves defeated the Diamondbacks 5-4 in 11 innings. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Friday night marks the managerial debut of Walt Weiss, who is taking over the Atlanta Braves clubhouse for Brian Snitker. Snitker was a very successful MLB manager, but at the end of his tenure, it had become clear the Braves needed a new clubhouse front, and the front office decided to stay internal and promote Walt Weiss.
Atlanta takes on the Kansas City Royals Friday night in a three-game set to start the year. Earlier Friday, Walt Weiss’s first MLB lineup was released by the team, and it’s proof that Weiss will bring change to the Braves this year.
More MLB on Heavy: Braves Make Mike Yastrzemski Decision Before Royals Game
Braves’ Opening Lineup
GettyWalt Weiss has made a crucial lineup decision.
The Braves will give Chris Sale the ball to start the season, and Atlanta will oppose Royals’ southpaw Cole Ragans to start the year.
Here is the first Braves lineup of the season:
- RF Ronald Acuña Jr.
- DH Drake Baldwin
- 2B Ozzie Albies
- 1B Matt Olson
- 3B Austin Riley
- LF Eli White
- SS Mauricio Dubon
- C Jonah Heim
- CF Michael Harris II
Mike Yastrzemski is notably absent from the lineup, and Drake Baldwin is featured in the two-hole as the DH. There’s a lot of faith in Baldwin against the southpaw, and Walt Weiss is showing he will play the matchup game early with Ozzie Albies hitting third.
All respect to Ozzie, but his numbers have slipped in recent years, but he’s still thrived against southpaws, which earns him this early trust from the new manager.
It will be interesting which route Weiss goes when a right-hander is on the mound.
The Braves paid Yastrzemski $23 million this offseason. He was one of the few bats Atlanta signed to make a real impact on this team. He should be the first man up off the bench for Weiss in Friday night’s contest.
More MLB on Heavy: Report: Cubs Extend Nico Hoerner to Six-Year Deal
Other Braves Opening Series Notes
GettyATLANTA, GEORGIA – SEPTEMBER 27: Drake Baldwin #30 of the Atlanta Braves runs to first base after hitting a double in the fourth inning of a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Truist Park on September 27, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images)
The Braves must win a majority of the starts Chris Sale makes.
After Chris Sale in the starting rotation, things get a lot dicier. Reynaldo Lopez and Grant Holmes will also likely start in this weekend’s series vs. Kansas City, but after that, Weiss has real decisions to make.
Walt Weiss has kinda been dealt a tough hand of cards before the season has even begun, so his managerial skills will be put to the test early and often.
With a beefed-up bullpen, the Braves don’t have to worry as much about how they will close games, but rather how they will get to the eighth and ninth innings with a lead.
More MLB on Heavy: Red Sox Predicted to Cut Ties with $90 Million Outfielder by MLB Insider
