Braves Repeat Opening Day Lineup Against Athletics

Ozzie Albies back in third spot as Braves face lefty Jacob Lopez

Mar. 30, 2026 at 7:23pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball game, with overlapping shapes and planes representing the players and action on the field.The Braves' lineup strategy against the Athletics' lefty starter aims to build on their successful Opening Day formula.Atlanta Today

The Atlanta Braves will be using the same starting lineup they deployed on Opening Day for their series opener against the Oakland Athletics. With the A's starting left-hander Jacob Lopez, manager Walt Weiss has opted to keep switch-hitting second baseman Ozzie Albies batting third in the order.

Why it matters

The Braves had success with this lineup configuration in their season-opening victory, and Weiss is hoping to replicate that formula against the southpaw Lopez. Albies has historically performed well against left-handed pitching, making him a valuable asset in the heart of the Braves' order.

The details

The full Braves lineup features Ozzie Albies batting third, flanked by Matt Olson and Austin Riley. The rest of the order remains unchanged from Opening Day, with Ronald Acuña Jr. leading off and Travis d'Arnaud batting cleanup. The Braves are looking to build on their strong start to the season against an Athletics team that is expected to struggle this year.

  • The series opener is scheduled for March 30, 2026.

The players

Ozzie Albies

The Braves' switch-hitting second baseman who has excelled against left-handed pitching throughout his career.

Jacob Lopez

The left-handed starting pitcher for the Oakland Athletics in the series opener against the Braves.

Walt Weiss

The manager of the Atlanta Braves, who has decided to use the same lineup that was successful on Opening Day against the left-handed Lopez.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

The Braves' decision to stick with their Opening Day lineup against the left-handed Lopez shows their confidence in the configuration and their belief that it can lead to another victory, building momentum early in the season.