FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Any managerial debut comes with nerves. For Rocco Baldelli, double that and add a splash of southwest Florida traffic congestion.

Baldelli plans to manage both of Minnesota's split-squad games to open the Twins' Grapefruit League schedule on Saturday. He will start the day at a 12:05 p.m. CT road game against the Orioles in Sarasota with half of his team before leaving at some point in the middle of the game to make the 90-minute drive down Interstate 75 for the 5:05 p.m. CT nightcap against the Rays at Hammond Stadium.

First-base coach Tommy Watkins will assume managerial duties for the conclusion of the game against the Orioles.

"I don't know if you can mentally prepare for it, but you try to get ahead as much as you can, and then you just go out there and do it," Baldelli said.

Most of the Twins' projected starters will remain in Fort Myers for the night game, with Jorge Polanco, Jonathan Schoop, Nelson Cruz, Eddie Rosario, C.J. Cron and Byron Buxton all expected to be in the starting lineup against the Rays, with right-hander Kohl Stewart slotted in as the starting pitcher.

Outfielder Alex Kirilloff, the organization's No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline, will start in right field with the regulars, as well as catcher Willians Astudillo and utility infielder Adam Rosales.

Meanwhile, several top prospects will make the trip up to Sarasota to face the Orioles. Outfielder LaMonte Wade (No. 13) and infielder Nick Gordon (No. 4) are slotted into the lineup behind starting pitcher Chase De Jong, while Brent Rooker (No. 7), Luke Raley (No. 19) and Royce Lewis (No. 1) are expected to play as defensive replacements.

"You can watch video and read as much as you can and have as many conversations as you want, but until you actually get out here and get a feel for them and their personalities and what they do on the field, you’re always still speculating," Baldelli said. "I’m just looking forward to seeing them out there with everyone."

Baldelli admitted he had fun writing out his first lineup cards as manager, and in the mold of Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash, he threw out lots of ideas and thoughts at bench coach Derek Shelton, hitting coach James Rowson and his staff as he structured his lineups.

"I don't want to say they come together easily, but they actually do make you think about a lot of different things as you're putting them together, so it's a good exercise," Baldelli said.

Speaking of Cash, Baldelli will have his guards up against any possible pranks from his old friend and Rays colleague on Saturday night.

"I would assume if Kevin Cash is in the stadium, there will be something going on," Baldelli said. "That's just a given. You can take that for any game you see him at until the end of time."

At the Rays' facility in Port Charlotte, Cash swore to behave.

"There will not be any antics, I promise," Cash said to reporters.

Twins lineups for Saturday:

12:05 p.m. CT at BAL: Ehire Adrianza 3B, Ronald Torreyes SS, Jake Cave RF, Lucas Duda DH, Tyler Austin 1B, LaMonte Wade LF, Zack Granite CF, Nick Gordon 2B, Tomás Telis C, Chase De Jong RHP

5:05 p.m. CT vs. TB: Jorge Polanco SS, Jonathan Schoop 2B, Nelson Cruz DH, Eddie Rosario LF, C.J. Cron 1B, Byron Buxton CF, Willians Astudillo C, Alex Kirilloff RF, Adam Rosales 3B, Kohl Stewart RHP

Quotable

"[Buxton and Sano] are exceptionally important to what we do here, for sure. They are priorities. But I also in no way want to fix Miguel and Byron directly to whether or not this team has success. That's not fair to them or any other player. I wouldn't do that to any other guy. These are guys who we are going to rely on, but we're also going to rely on many other people to lead us at different times and carry us at different times." -- Baldelli