Wilson must adjust in his first spring start

Braves can’t get much going off four hits as Tigers cruise to 5-1 win.

NORTH PORT, FLA. — Bryse Wilson was hit hard in his spring debut, allowing four hits and two runs in the first inning of a game the Braves lost to the Tigers 5-1 Sunday at CoolToday Park.

Wilson is vying for one of two available rotation spots. Sunday won’t be remembered as his finest showing, though he showed the ability to rebound smoothly.

With one down in the first, Wilson allowed four consecutive hard-hit singles. He escaped the inning by coaxing a double play from Dawel Lugo. Wilson pitched a 1-2-3 second frame, inducing a pair of flyouts and a grounder.

“The first inning, I was trying to do a little too much as far as throwing the cutter a little bit,” Wilson said. “The second inning, I realized just the fastball, change-up — maybe cutter down and away to a righty, where he can’t do too much with it — but stick with the change-up and fastball. Those are the strengths.”

For Wilson, it’s all about his offspeed pitches. He’s fastball-heavy, needing his change-up and slider to make strides in order to fulfill his potential. Wilson didn’t throw his slider Sunday, but, as he pointed out, he found success with his change-up in the second inning.

The Braves are hosting a competition for two starting rotation spots, with Wilson compet

ing against Felix Hernandez (who pitched Saturday), Kyle Wright and Sean Newcomb. Wilson began last season in the rotation, starting the second game of the opening series in Philadelphia, but appeared in only five games the rest of the year.

“It’s four guys for two spots,” Wilson said. “But for me, I just want to be the best pitcher that I can be. It’s all about consistency. I’m still working on the slider. Didn’t throw it any today, but for me it’s about being consistent and commanding the zone. I’m getting closer and closer to realizing who I am as a pitcher.”

Wilson’s ceiling is very much undefined. He has fallen under the radar among a plethora of talented young pitchers, and his gutsy big league debut in Pittsburgh, when he pitched five scoreless innings on Aug. 20, 2018, feels as though it were eons ago.

“The biggest thing for me, especially coming through the minors: I didn’t have a change-up,” Wilson said. “My change-up was pretty much nonexistent until I got to the big leagues, then it came out of nowhere. It was pretty much fastball-slider. I tell a lot of people, I made it to the big leagues off one pitch, and that was my fastball. It’s just developing those off-speed pitches and realizing that change-up is my second-best pitch and throwing it like it’s my second-best pitch.”

Other notes from Sunday’s game:

■ Towering lefty Kyle Muller had his first appearance, with an erratic yet entertaining performance in the sixth inning. He allowed a leadoff single before hitting consecutive batters. He even skied a pitch to the backstop.

Muller calmed down and struck out the next two Tigers. But he walked the ensuing hitter, bringing home Detroit’s fourth run and ending his afternoon. Still, Muller’s physical build and arm strength make his potential clear. He just needs to hone his command.

“He relaxed and started breathing,” manager Brian Snitker said. “He started turning it loose. You saw what he’s capable of.”

■ The Braves’ lone run came against Matt Manning, who relieved Detroit starter Ivan Nova. Ronald Acuna reached on an error for the second time in the game and was replaced by pinch-runner Shane Robinson, who swiped second base. Ozzie Albies singled, advancing Robinson to third. Freddie Freeman brought him home on a sacrifice fly.

Acuna, Albies and Freeman have hit the ground running, each having reached base to begin Saturday’s game.

■ Pitcher Patrick Weigel had his first work of spring in the seventh inning. Weigel, who’s more distanced from Tommy John surgery in the summer of 2017, tossed a clean inning with a grounder, flyout and strikeout. While he probably won’t open the season with the club, Weigel could factor into the Braves’ bullpen plans later in the season.

“It was really good,” Snitker said of Weigel’s appearance. “Secondary stuff was good. Popped his fastball. It was nice.”

Below: Kyle Muller came in to start the sixth inning, giving up a hit, an earned run and a walk with two strikeouts. Manager Brian Snitker still liked what he saw from Muller.

PHOTOS BY CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM Above: Bryse Wilson pitched the first two innings Sunday for the Braves against the Tigers, with four hits and two earned runs.