Manager Bryan Price laid out the Reds' spring rotation Saturday afternoon.
The rotation is as follows:
Game 1: Jon Moscot, followed by Brandon Finnegan
Game 2: Robert Stephenson, followed by Cody Reed
Game 3: Anthony DeSclafani, Jonathan Sanchez
Game 4: Michael Lorenzen, Tim Melville
Game 5: Finnegan
Game 6: Moscot
That sets up DeSclafani to start the opener on April 4 against Philadelphia. With the pitchers only going an inning in their first outing, there’s plenty of time to adjust.
"Once we get them set up -- if you pitch a guy an inning or two innings, you can always bring them back on three-days rest instead of four,” Price said. “We just didn't want Finnegan to go all the way to the fifth to pitch in his first game.”
Raisel Iglesias will join the rotation as some point. He’s behind because he dealt with shoulder fatigue late last season.
“He's thrown great,” Price said. “He’s closer to the middle of the month, but he'll have adequate time to be fully stretched out by the time we need him for his first start of the season.”
Iglesias will probably start the season in the fifth spot.
Price said he has been impressed with the young arms.
“A lot of good ones,” he said. “Seeing Reed and (Nick) Travieso and Amir Garrett and watching those guys rock and fire. Romano, it's just a lot of big arms, young, big, strong, hard-throwing, good feel for a breaking ball, prospects that are getting really close to being able to help us.”
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This is first time Price has seen Reed, who came over from Kansas City in the Cueto trade, throw live.
“He’s pretty special from what we’ve seen,” Price said. “We knew that when we got him. You always hope that kids live up to their billing. He certainly has. We’re really excited to have him. I know he was a tough guy for Kansas City to give up.”
Cody Reed who? Meet the only rookie from the Johnny Cueto trade
Reed touches 97 mph with his fastball and has a good slider. His change-up has improved since last year.
