Play ball: Everything to know about Braves home opener today

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — The Atlanta Braves are back in town! The team’s first home game of the shortened 2020 season is tonight with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. against Tampa Bay.

The Rays defeated the Braves Monday and Tuesday down in Tampa.

Some good news for the Braves: catchers Tyler Flowers and Travis d’Arnaud have been cleared to rejoin the team. The players tested negative for COVID-19 but did not travel with team last week.

In a surprising move, the Braves will also get back outfielder Nick Markakis, who decided to rejoin the team after previously opting out of the season.

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While they can’t sit inside the stadium, restaurants and bars are open in the Battery Atlanta. Channel 2′s Chris Jose spoke with restaurant managers about how they are adapting in the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Yeah we have a little bit of a different strategy this season. We normally get packed before the game and packed right after the game. We’re ready to go the entire length of the game this time,” Scott Sadoff said.

“Everyone is going to take a slight dip in sales, obviously with everything going on, and people being safe. And really controlling capacity. But everything will level out eventually.”

Wahlburgers general manager Joe Rose believes fans will still come out to the Battery to soak in game day just from a distance.

“We’re not the next best thing, we are the best thing because we are right here.”

Normally, we would see tons of traffic ahead of tonight’s game. But this year, fans are not allowed inside the stadium. However, restaurants and bars will be open inside the Battery Atlanta.

Fans also had the chance to purchase cardboard cutouts of themselves that the team has placed in the stands behind home plate and the dugouts.

Here is a look of the sights and sounds of opening day at Truist Park:

Cox Media Group