Starters Going Nine Today

With the exception of Brandon Phillips, the Reds starters will play nine innings today.

Ramon Hernandez has discomfort in his throwing elbow but it is one of the minor aches and pains that players go through while getting ready.

"We're going to DH him in a minor league games so he doesn't lose his stroke," Dusty Baker said.  "It really doesn't hurt him to throw, you saw that rocket he fired to secondbase (on Sunday).  It's just uncomfortable."

Arredondo may start the season on the DL.  This close to surgery, he has shown flashes of great stuff but is "inconsistent and strength is a question," Baker said.

David Sappelt has hit well enough to make the team but has things to work on in the minor leagues, yet he survived two rounds of cuts.

"We want to see him some more," Baker said. "But innings are going to decrease.  Our starters are going to go nine here soon.  We have him in a pinch hit role today to see how he does.  That can be tough on a young guy but with his stroke, I think he can do it."

Baker wants to use pitchers in season type situations.  "I wanted to bring Dontrelle in with the bases loaded the other day but we didn't get him up in time.  We are going to start putting these guys in game-type situations."

A clue that Willis will make the team and Leake was going to make the team in the bullpen came when Baker mentioned both in long relief.  "They are both good with the bat. So we can leave them out there longer to get an at bat.  If we use them one day and they aren't available the next we can use them to pinch hit," Baker said.