An approach used by managers around the majors as teams emerge from spring training, when backups start regularly and bench bats get plenty of swings, is not have those players go cold turkey in playing time in April.
A start here. A start there. Three innings in a rout, maybe.
While a bench player moonlighting for a regular is often noticed for the absence of the regular — is he hurt? is he resting? why is he getting a break, in April? — there is a way to win a doubleheader, as manager Tony La Russa said.