Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — The Braves want a reliever with spot-starter capabilities, and Jeff Bennett presented a strong case Friday.

Called on to replace sore-shouldered John Smoltz, Bennett was superb in three scoreless innings of a 6-4 loss against Cleveland at Champion Stadium.

"Bennett was outstanding," manager Bobby Cox said of the right-hander, who allowed two hits and no walks and threw 22 strikes in 36 pitches. "All groundballs and two strikeouts.

"That's who he is — a groundball guy you can use anywhere in the bullpen or spot-starting. He just had a fantastic day. Couldn't have done any better."

Those are words Bennett hoped to hear this late in the spring, after he missed a week with the flu at the beginning of the Grapefruit League schedule.

He gave up five runs (three earned) in two innings of a windy game against Cincinnati in his second appearance March 8, but has pitched seven scoreless innings (three hits, one walk) in three games since to revive his roster bid.

"I'd love to have some [job] security," he said. "Hopefully we'll find out in the next couple of days. ...

"I told Bobby the other day, I just want to be in a Braves uniform. I don't care if it's in long relief, short relief, starting or whatever. This year we're going to win, and I just want to do whatever I can to help, whatever role."

Braves officials planned to meet Friday night to discuss remaining roster decisions, including three spots in the bullpen.

Four relievers are out of minor-league options — Tyler Yates, Blaine Boyer, Chris Resop and left-hander Royce Ring — and would need to go through waivers if they're not kept on the 25-man roster or traded before opening day.

Bennett has options, which means he could be sent back to Class AAA Richmond.

"Options can sometimes be a bad thing," he said.

The former Milwaukee reliever had "Tommy John" elbow surgery that sidelined him for the 2006 season. He progressed steadily last season at Richmond, going 2-0 with a 1.04 ERA in three playoff starts before being called to the majors.

Bennett went 2-1 with a 3.46 ERA in three games (two starts) for Atlanta, then topped off the year with a strong winter-ball performance in Venezuela, where he followed a chicken-and-rice diet to complete his startling 54-pound weight reduction, from 262 in July to 208 on Dec. 1.

Drese "completely out of whack"

Whatever odds Ryan Drese had of making the team, they just got longer.

The journeyman right-hander's pitch command abandoned him entirely during the third inning Friday, when he walked five consecutive Cleveland batters.

"I don't know what happened to Drese," Cox said. "He just got completely out of whack. I don't know if it was his release point, or what."

Drese was pulled after facing two batters in the fourth inning (he hit the first one, walked the second).

He recorded one of the ugliest pitching lines in quite some time: one inning, one hit, six runs (all earned), six walks, one wild pitch, one hit batter.

Asked why he was left in so long, Cox said the Braves planned to use Drese for three innings. "You've got give him a chance to get straightened out," he said.