Billingsley will start in bullpen

Chad Billingsley came to spring training among the favorites to fill the lone vacant spot in the Dodgers’ starting rotation. And he has done nothing to damage that candidacy, pitching 6 1/3 innings without giving up an earned run.

So it was no surprise that Manager Grady Little all but guaranteed the 22-year-old right-hander a place on the opening day roster Wednesday. What is surprising, however, is that Billingsley’s place will be in the bullpen, not the rotation.

“The bottom line is it’s the best thing for him right now,” Little said. “We feel like it will prepare him for his future. We still feel like he’s going to be a great starter in the big leagues. But he’s got some learning to do and we want this to take place in that role for us this year.”

Billingsley, who is scheduled to pitch in relief against the Washington Nationals tonight, was not in camp on Wednesday’s scheduled off day. But when given the news, Little said Billingsley was happy just to be on the team, even if it is as a reliever.

“He’ll be glad to do whatever he can to help us win,” said Little, who plans to use Billingsley in middle and long relief.

Billingsley, called up to the big leagues last June, went 7-4 with a 3.80 earned-run average in 16 starts and two relief appearances for the Dodgers. He also pitched twice out of the bullpen in the National League playoffs. But those four relief outings, plus two for double-A Jacksonville in 2005, are the extent of his experience as a reliever.

Billingsley’s move to the bullpen narrows the battle for the Dodgers’ fifth starting spot to five, with right-hander Brett Tomko, who has given up only one run and four hits in seven spring outings, the probable favorite. Right-hander Joe Mays (two runs and five hits in seven innings) and left-hander Mark Hendrickson (six earned runs in 6 2/3 innings) are also in the competition, as are left-handers Hong-Chih Kuo and Eric Stults.

Tatis released

The Dodgers released Fernando Tatis, two days after the infielder was reassigned to minor league camp. A veteran of eight big league seasons, Tatis signed a minor league contract this winter and was a non-roster invitee to spring training. But after getting only three hits in 19 Grapefruit League at-bats, he was transferred back to the minors Sunday. He didn’t show up until Wednesday, however, by which time the team had decided to cut him loose.

Close call

The Dodgers got a scare when minor leaguer Preston Mattingly lined a ball back at left-hander Randy Wolf during the pitcher’s five-inning simulated game. Wolf said the comebacker reminded him of the line drive that broke his hand during a minor league rehab start last summer.

“It was a little scary. But that’s kind of what happens in the game,” said Wolf, who threw 73 pitches, 37 for strikes, against a lineup of Dodgers farmhands.

“We had a little close call there,” Little said. “But that’s good for him too. It gets his blood circulating. Thankfully he didn’t get hurt.”

kevin.baxter@latimes.com