roster rumble

Three former Mississippi Braves pitchers, including two who were here just last summer, are in a five-way battle for two bullpen jobs in Atlanta. Jo-Jo Reyes, a lefty who has a 2.45 ERA this spring, may have an inside track on one of the spots; he already has some big league experience, though not a lot of success. Lefty Jonny Venters, the M-Braves’ 2009 opening day starter, also is in the chase, though his ERA jumped to 6.00 today when he allowed three runs in two-thirds of an inning. The longest shot is Craig Kimbrel, who blew through three levels of minor league ball last season and earned an invitation to the major league camp. Kimbrel, a hard-throwing right-hander, has not allowed an earned run. There’s an outside chance he could come back to Pearl as the M-Braves’ closer. But Atlanta’s brass may have bigger plans for him. … It appears the Braves will open the season with at least six ex-M-Braves on the roster: catcher Brian McCann, second baseman Martin Prado, shortstop Yunel Escobar and right fielder Jason Heyward — all expected to be regulars — and pitchers Tommy Hanson and Kris Medlen.