Upton to bat leadoff

No word yet on who won the Fifth Spot in the Rotation Sweepstakes or which team has traded for Jeff Niemann, but Rays manager Joe Maddon did have some news before Saturday's exhibition season finale in Philadelphia.

B.J. Upton will bat leadoff when he returns to the lineup April 13.

Until then, Maddon will use Akinori Iwamura and Jason Bartlett as leadoff hitters, using Aki against right-handed pitchers and Bartlett against the lefties.

Once Upton returns for the home opener against the Yankees, Aki and Bartlett will move to the bottom of the order.

Aki will bat eighth and Bartlett ninth against righties and the two will switch against lefties.

Maddon also announced that Matt Joyce will start in center field and Gabe Gross will start in right against righties, meaning Joyce is your Opening Day center field when the Rays play the Red Sox on Monday at Fenway Park.

Gabe Kapler and Ben Zobrist will be in the outfield against lefties, though Maddon hasn't decided who will play center and who will play right.

The decision between Niemann and Jason Hammel will be made Sunday before the Rays set their Opening Day roster. The deadline is 3 p.m.

Both pitchers will pitch in a Triple A game Sunday. It's doubtful the race between the two fifth starter candidates is that close. The Rays have to be working out arrangements for a trade, probably for Niemann since he appears to have more upside.