Reds Take on Cactus League Champions

Fresh off the obligatory golf cart parade down Bell Boulevard the 23-7-2, Cactus League Champion, Kansas City Royals will grace the 11-18-2 Cincinnati Reds in Goodyear Ballpark.

The lineup that will attempt to dethrone the Royals and pitcher Ervin Santana is:

Shin-Soo Choo CF
Brandon Phillips 2B
Joey Votto 1B
Ryan Ludwick LF
Jay Bruce RF
Todd Frazier 3B
Zack Cozart SS
Ryan Hanigan C
Mat Latos P

The Royals lineup is:

Alex Gordon LF
Elliot Johnson SS
Billy Butler 1B
Mike Moustakas 3B
Salvador Perez C
Eric Hosmer RF
Lorenzo Cain CF
Miguel Tejada 2B
Ervin Santana P

Pregame talk with Dusty Baker centered around the choices for the bullpen

Logan Ondrusek:

"His command and velocity is down," Baker said. "The more you try to get velocity the less you have.  It is bewildering to some of us. It's bewildering to him."

Manny Parra:

"He has to make the team first," Baker said. "I've seen Manny better than he's been since he's been here.. We've seen him from the other side,  The need for a second lefty to take the pressure off of Marshall, when Marshall's pitched a couple days in a row or is gone from the game. That will be figured into the decision."