The Orioles begin their 2013 season on Tuesday in St. Petersburg against the Tampa Bay Rays and unveiled their lineup for the first game of the season on Monday.
Right-hander Jason Hammel will take the hill against Rays southpaw David Price, the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner.
Nick Markakis will pick up where he left off last season as the club’s leadoff hitter after proving to be healthy over the final week of spring training. The 29-year-old right fielder missed most of March with a small herniated disc in his neck.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of manager Buck Showalter’s lineup for the season opener is third baseman Manny Machado hitting in the second spot in the order. Machado displayed improved patience during the spring and the Orioles are facing a tough left-hander on the mound, meaning Nate McLouth will be on the bench in favor of right-handed designated hitter Steve Pearce.
Nolan Reimold will play left field and hit seventh in what’s likely an effort to keep the pressure off the outfielder in the same way that Showalter has elected to put second baseman Brian Roberts in the No. 9 spot in the lineup to begin the season. Against right-handed pitching, McLouth will start in left field and Reimold will serve as the DH in most cases.
BALTIMORE
RF Nick Markakis
3B Manny Machado
CF Adam Jones
C Matt Wieters
1B Chris Davis
SS J.J. Hardy
LF Nolan Reimold
DH Steve Pearce
2B Brian Roberts
SP Jason Hammel (2012 stats: 8-6, 3.43 ERA)
TAMPA BAY
CF Desmond Jennings
RF Sam Fuld
2B Ben Zobrist
3B Evan Longoria
LF Matt Joyce
SS Yunel Escobar
1B James Loney
C Jose Molina
DH Kelly Johnson
SP David Price (2012 stats: 20-5, 2.56 ERA)
