Albert Pujols May Return Against Reds on Tuesday Could Face Dontrelle Willis

Albert Pujols fractured his left wrist 15 days ago.  It was thought that the super star would miss four to six weeks.

Fox Sports reported during the Reds game that Pujols wrist has already healed, enabling him to start against Cincinnati on Tuesday, the day he is eligible to come off.

Dontrelle Willis was supposed to pitch for Louisville in a Fourth of July tilt with Columbus.  He was scratched and Tom Cochran made the start instead.  Cochran spent one day in Cincinnati when pitching injuries caused 13 pitching roster moves in as many days.

Willis, whose career hit hard times due to an inability to throw strikes, has demonstrated superb controll in his last five outings.  His stuff has always been top notch.  Though he was scratched, no injury was reported.

If a pitcher is scratched without injury in the minor leagues, there is a strong possibility that he is being moved up.

Dusty Baker said weeks ago that Willis would be in the mix before the season was over.  The Reds rotation is void of a lefthander, since Travis Wood has been sent to Louisville to find himself, ala, Mike Leake.

Willis nearly made the team out of spring training.  He showed signs early that his command was better but an injury caused a setback, then when he recovered from the injury, his command suffered.

In May when the Reds were navigating a sea of injury among pitchers, Willis was going to be added to the roster but had another injury.  This time when he recovered, his control was superb.  He has walked just three batters in his last four starts, covering  27 2/3 innings.