Notes: Wilson optioned; backstop battle 

Instead of making his scheduled start during the Braves' 7-6 win over the Twins on Friday night at Hammond Stadium, Bryse Wilson began preparing to possibly join Atlanta’s rotation during the regular season’s second full week.

Wilson was optioned to the Braves’ alternate training site Friday. Unless replacing a player placed on the injured list, he will not be eligible to be placed on Atlanta’s active roster before April 11, which is a day or two before the team plans to first use a fifth starter.

Accounting for an off-day on the second day of the season, the Braves are planning to utilize a bullpen game either April 6 or 7 at Nationals Park. This means Huascar Ynoa could be placed back in the role that he filled a few times last year, when he was asked to complete the first few innings of games.

“We’re just going to probably use that fifth slot out of the bullpen,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “It will be kind of like we did last year. It will depend on how we get there. We’ve got some guys stretched out, and we’ve got some multiple-inning guys where I think we can do that.”

By going with a bullpen game during that first turn, the Braves will be able to carry an extra pitcher through the season’s first 10 games, which could prove beneficial with game management. It also creates a little extra time to protect pitchers who are out of Minor League options.

When the Braves opt to use a fifth starter during the regular season’s second week, they could go with Kyle Wright or Wilson. Wright still seemingly has the greater upside, but Wilson was more impressive as he posted a 1.98 ERA over 13 2/3 innings in Grapefruit League games.

Wright or Wilson would be filling the rotation spot reserved for Mike Soroka, who could return from right Achilles surgery in late April.

Contreras vs. Jackson
Snitker said there is still a lot of internal debate about whether it’s best to begin the season with William Contreras or Alex Jackson as the backup catcher.

Jackson was initially considered the favorite for the role because of the assumption that Contreras needed the opportunity to continue playing every day at the Minor League level.

But now that Contreras has continued to impress, and it’s known that the Triple-A season won’t start until May, there’s reason to question whether it would be best to keep him at the big league level for at least one month.

Contreras has far greater upside and the Braves want to protect the development of their 23-year-old prospect. But the club also sees good value in the 25-year-old Jackson, who has tremendous power, but has also consistently generated high strikeout rates.

Jackson tallied a two-run single in the fifth inning Friday night. He is 3-for-26 with a home run and eight strikeouts this spring.

“His slash line isn’t any good, but we’ve seen some progress with his bat all of the sudden,” Snitker said. “What’s best for them, us, the whole thing? I don’t know there is a right or wrong answer.”

After Jackson exited Friday’s game, Contreras recorded a pair of hits, including a double off of J.A. Happ. He is now 6-for-17 with two doubles, a homer and six strikeouts.

Bench battle
Ehire Adrianza continues to make it more difficult to believe that he won’t be on the Braves’ Opening Day roster. Adrianza recorded a two-run single in Friday’s seventh inning.

The versatile utility man has gone 14-for-34 with four doubles and a pair of home runs during Grapefruit League play.

While Adrianza’s bid is strengthened by his ability to play nearly every position, Pablo Sandoval is limited defensively. But Sandoval is giving the Braves reason to believe that he can be a valuable switch-hitter off of the bench. He recorded three hits Friday and is now hitting .429 (15-for-35).

“He just likes to play baseball,” Snitker said. “He does anything you ask him. He’s intense and professional with his work. He knows he can hit and he’s very aggressive.”

Adrianza and Sandoval are both non-roster invitees. The Braves would need to create 40-man roster spots in order to carry either player, along with Nate Jones, a right-handed reliever who hadn’t allowed a run over 6 1/3 innings before surrendering a home run to Kyle Garlick during the third inning Friday.

But Adrianza’s defensive versatility may lead the Braves to keep Sandoval instead of carrying Johan Camargo, who has hit .200 over a team-high 40 at-bats during camp.