Leake and Chapman to Face Murders Row West

Mike Leake will be pitching in the shadows of Arizona State University where he impressed baseball scouts enough to become a first round draft choice.  Aroldis Chapman, Leakes rival for the fifth starting spot in the Reds' rotation, will follow against the powerful Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at the very lovely Tempe Diablo Stadium.

Leake is scheduled to work two innings facing the following lineup:

Mike Trout LF
Howie Kendrick 2B
Albert Pujols DH
Josh Hamiliton RF
Mark Trumbo 1B
Chris Iannetta C
Peter Bourjos CF
Andrew Romine SS
Brendan Harris 3B
Tommy Hanson P

Trout is the reigning AL Rookie of the Year.  Albert Pujols terrorized the Reds as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals while winning the NL Most Valuable Player Award in 2005, 2008 and 2009.  Josh Hamilton broke into the Major League with the Reds in 2007.  He was traded to the Texas Rangers where he won the AL batting title and the MVP in 2010.

These Angels will be the Reds' opponent on opening day April 1st, no fooling.

The Reds will send the following lineup against Hanson:

Shin-Soo Choo DH
Billy Hamilton CF
Joey Votto 1B
Ryan Ludwick LF
Jay Bruce RF
Todd Frazier 3B
Zack Cozart SS
Devin Mesoraco C
Henry Rodriguez 2B
Mike Leake P

Shin-Soo Choo will not play the field and it has nothing to do with his marital status.  He is nursing strained right quadriceps.

Leake will give way to Aroldis Chapman, who will pitch two innings, Josh Ravin, Wilkin De La Rosa, Chad Rogers and Nick Christiani.