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02/22/09 7:59 PM EST

Cox reveals Braves' spring rotation

Lowe to make Grapefruit League debut Saturday vs. Jays

Derek Lowe will likely be the Braves' Opening Day starter, but manager Bobby Cox is holding off on making an official announcment. (David J. Phillip/AP)
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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- While attempting to get his starting pitchers on schedule for the regular season and account for the fact that a couple of them will be pitching in the World Baseball Classic, Braves manager Bobby Cox had to use some creativity while arranging his Grapefruit League rotation.

When Cox announced this schedule after Sunday afternoon's workout at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex, he showed how he's accounted for the fact that Javier Vazquez and Jorge Campillo will both be making at least one start for their respective countries in the Classic.

When Tom Glavine arrives in camp during the first week of March, the Braves will provide a better understanding about where he'll fit into the exhibition season rotation.

"It is a little bit different trying to plan your pitching with your own pitchers leaving," Cox said. "We've got so many potential starters that it's hard to put it all together."

Lowe will make his Grapefruit League debut against the Blue Jays in Dunedin, Fla., on Saturday. While he'll likely be the Opening Day starter, Cox will wait to make that official.

Jair Jurrjens will face his former team when the Braves open their Grapefruit League season against the Tigers in Lakeland, Fla., on Wednesday.

Jorge Campillo and Tommy Hanson are scheduled to pitch in the exhibition season home opener on Thursday, when the Braves host the Astros.

Hanson, who has continued to turn heads during the early weeks of camp, will start the March 3 game against Panama at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex. By that time, Campillo will have already joined his Mexican teammates to prepare for the Classic.

To allow Vazquez the opportunity to get on schedule to make his scheduled start for Puerto Rico on March 7, Cox will have the right-hander join Jurrjens as two of the pitchers who will throw during a March 2 intrasquad game at Disney.

Kenshin Kawakami will make his exhibition debut for the Braves on Friday, when they travel to face the Pirates in Bradenton, Fla. Charlie Morton will start the March 1 home game against the Phillies.

In other pitching-related news, Cox revealed that Rafael Soriano is expected to throw batting practice for the first time Monday. The right-handed reliever has been battling an upper respiratory infection over the past week.

Mark Bowman is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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