Braves News: Opening Day, BravesVision deal, and more
Atlanta Braves news and notes from Thursday.
Mar 13, 2026; North Port, Florida, USA; Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss (4) looks on against the New York Yankees at CoolToday Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images Happy Opening Day, Braves Country! During Thursday’s presser, Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss informed the media that Drake Baldwin would be in the Opening Day lineup , but not behind the dish.
Instead, Baldwin will be in the DH role while Jonah Heim is behind the plate. It’s a pretty interesting way to roll things out. The Braves still get Baldwin’s bat but don’t have to throw him straight into catching duties on day one.
At the same time, Heim gives them a nice presence behind the plate, which should help the pitching staff settle in early. It feels like a simple way to get the best of both worlds from the jump. Weiss gave a few other hints at how the lineup would shape up, like Ronald Acuña Jr.
and Mike Yastrzemski’s roles. The Braves kick off the 2026 campaign Friday evening with a matchup against the Kansas City Royals. More Braves News: The Braves reached a deal with Xfinity that will broadcast BravesVision, beginning today, March 27.