Hamilton gets first start as Brave

It is always fun when a National League team visits an American League ballpark due to the many new lineup possibilities that a manager can create. Brian Snitker has decided to go with one of the more exciting possibilities tonight. Prioritizing defense and speed, Billy Hamilton will get his first start as a Brave. One can only hope that if Hamilton gets on and Ronald Acuna Jr. walks, a shot into the gap by Ozzie Albies or Freddie Freeman could lead to one of the most exciting plays of the season. Even if that does not occur, having Hamilton in center could play a significant role tonight in taking an extra base hit or two away from the powerful Blue Jays lineup.

Just like Braves fans, Blue Jays fans hope the top third of this order remains intact for many years to come. While Bo Bichette, Cavan Biggio, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. certainly are the main catalysts for Toronto’s lineup, the rest of the order is not an easy journey to navigate either. In the most extensive playing time of his career, Randal Grichuk is on pace to crush his previous career high in home runs. While they may not make the most consistent contact, several Toronto hitters have the ability to change the game with one swing of the bat.