Matt Wisler expected to start for Braves on Friday

The Atlanta Braves are expected to call up top prospect Matt Wisler to start Friday's series opener against the New York Mets according to a report by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's David O'Brien.

Wisler has made 12 starts for Gwinnett and has a 3-4 record with a 4.29 ERA. He doesn't have the electric stuff that Mike Foltynewicz possesses, but is a more refined prospect. Foltynewicz was sent down earlier this week after some recent struggles. It appears that Wisler will get the next opportunity, but Braves' President John Hart indicated that he could return to the minors if he struggles.

"I'm not married to (Wisler) staying here," said John Hart, Braves president of baseball operations. "I'm not worried if I have to send him back. Because we will have more information, (the young pitchers) will have more information. Johnny Sain always said it best - they're always better the second time they come up.

"As tough as it was to send Folty out because you wanted to keep him, it was the right thing to do. And any young pitcher we bring up, we're the land of opportunity. We bring them up because we think they can defend themselves up here, and there's going to be a learning curve. And so we'll manage that."

The Braves acquired Wisler from the San Diego Padres in the trade that sent Craig Kimbrel and Melvin Upton Jr. west.