Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — Much of John Smoltz's spring training will be spent pitching in relative solitude on backfields at Disney's Wide World of Sports.

But it seems likely he'll be back on center stage when the season begins March 30 at Washington, back making a third opening day start in four seasons.

That much can be deduced from pitching plans manager Bobby Cox announced Monday for the beginning of the Grapefruit League schedule.

Tim Hudson is set to start Thursday's opener against the Dodgers, followed by rookie Jair Jurrjens, Tom Glavine, Mike Hampton and rookie Jo-Jo Reyes.

Smoltz isn't in the initial rotation because Cox is letting him follow a schedule that includes only two or three major-league exhibition games.

Chuck James, rebounding from a shoulder injury, is scheduled to make his spring debut around March 15. He'll likely start the season at Class AAA Richmond.

Smoltz, 40, will skip most of his Grapefruit League turns and pitch those days in simulated-game conditions against Braves minor leaguers or in minor-league camp games, where he can work on his sinker, curveball and changeup without competitive nature causing him to revert to his power pitches to get outs.

"He's fine," Cox said. "He can't be throwing any better than he's throwing [in the bullpen and batting practice]. He just wants to, at his age, work back there and not do anything [in games] until his last few starts."

Smoltz devised the plan after struggling to get through a 14-win season. He decided it was time to become more efficient and get outs with fewer pitches, by trying to get more groundballs and popups and fewer strikeouts.

"John's always got a plan — and that's good," Cox said of the right-hander who has 207 career wins and 154 saves. "You learn to listen to him."

Hudson's every-fifth-day schedule would put him on pace to start the final exhibition game March 29 against Cleveland in Atlanta, with the pitcher behind him on pace to start the March 30 opener at Washington.

Jurrjens is behind him in the rotation for now, but the rookie is competing for a starting spot. If he gets it, the Braves wouldn't start him on opening day.

It seems likely that Smoltz would slip into the spot behind Hudson late in spring training, with Jurrjens competing for a spot at the back of the rotation.

The spring order announced Monday, when extrapolated, would put Glavine in line to start the home opener March 31 against Pittsburgh, in the left-hander's first home game since returning to the Braves after five seasons with the Mets.

Hudson could then be slotted to start the third game against Pittsburgh on April 2 (there's no game April 1), followed by Hampton in the fourth game.

Hampton impressive again

Cautious optimism builds around Hampton, who threw another crisp, pain-free batting practice session that impressed hitters and batting-cage observers.

"He looks good," new center fielder Mark Kotsay said after looking at three consecutive likely called strikes — two knee-high fastballs on the outer edge of the plate and a curveball that snapped over the middle.

"That's three or four times in a row," Cox said of Hampton's sessions. "He's got real good pop, good movement, location was good. ... You couldn't ask for more, put it that way."

Hampton missed two seasons recovering from two elbow surgeries, and is attempting a comeback at age 35 in the final year of his contract that will pay him $15 million. He'll be in the rotation if healthy.

"I'm really happy with my progress so far," he said. "There's no pain or anything. My arm feels good. I don't worry now, from one day to the next, about how my arm is going to feel. I don't have that [doubt] in the back of my mind."

He pulled his left hamstring in the first (and thus, only) start of a Mexican winter-league stint in November, but the leg hasn't been an issue in camp. Hampton is doing fielding and running drills, albeit with some restraint.