Rickard will bat leadoff and play center field in Thursday's game against the Twins.

EDGE Analysis

Adam Jones is getting the day off Thursday, which prompted manager Buck Showalter to shuffle the lineup around and experiment with Rickard in the leadoff spot. Rickard has batted ninth in the first two games of this season, going 4-for-7 with an RBI in that span. He'll be facing right-hander Phil Hughes on Thursday, and if Rickard can continue to get on base regularly, he could potentially see more time in the leadoff spot.

Rickard went 2-for-3 with a sacrifice fly in Wednesday's win over Minnesota.

EDGE Analysis

That's consecutive two-hit games to open the season for the Rule 5 pick, who put up a composite .321/.427/.447 line across three minor league stops last year in Tampa's organization. He doesn't have a lot of pop, but Rickard's speed, plate discipline and contact skills -- not to mention the promise of regular playing time -- make him an intriguing asset for AL-only and deep mixed leagues.

Rickard went 2-for-4 with a double in Baltimore's Opening Day win over the Twins.

EDGE Analysis

Rickard sustained his spring training momentum by collecting his first two MLB hits. He was good enough this spring to warrant consideration to hit higher in the order, but the Orioles elected to start Rickard off with little pressure by hitting him ninth. Both Nolan Reimold and Hyun-soo Kim remained on the bench for the entire game and Rickard seems to be valued defensively, which means he should retain at-bats late in the game.

Rickard will start in left field for the Orioles on Opening Day.

EDGE Analysis

Rickard has played just 29 games above the Double-A level, but his impressive spring earned him the Orioles' starting left field job, and the fact that he will start Monday against a right-hander indicates the Orioles aren't going with any sort of strict platoon out of the gate. He will hit ninth in Monday's lineup against Twins starter Ervin Santana.