Heisey in RF for Bruce
Reds lineup vs. Astros
Stubbs 8
Phillips 4
Votto 3
Rolen 5
Gomes 7
Heisey 9
Hernandez 2
Janish 6
Leake 1
*No word on why Jay Bruce isn’t in there yet. But just guessing it’s a matchup thing. It’s a small sample but Bruce is 0-for-3 with 2 Ks lifetime vs. Astros lefty starter J.A. Happ. Also, over his career, lefty hitter bat .202 vs. Happ compared to .252 for right-handed hitters.
***UPDATE via Dusty Baker: “I’m trying to figure out a way to keep Heisey swinging too because had such a good spring,” Baker said. “Happ’s been tough against left-handers even though Jay has been getting against left-handed pitchers. It’s that Happ is one of the tougher ones. I don’t want Heisey to sit too long and lose the stroke that he had going. We’re going to need him.”
*Johnny Cueto (shoulder) threw 35 pitches in the bullpen today.
“It was good today. I threw hard. No pain, no nothing,” Cueto said.
*Cueto will throw in a two-inning game against extended spring players at the Goodyear complex on Sunday while the Reds are out there to play the D-Backs this weekend.
*Homer Bailey also long tossed today and is making progress. Bailey is slated to have bullpen sessions on April 9th and then the 11th or 12th. If all goes well, he will see his first game action on the 14th, most likely at the Goodyear complex also. I will have more on Cueto/Bailey from Bryan Price on Reds.com/MLB.com
*Former Reds 1B Sean Casey is making his debut tonight as an analyst for FS Ohio. Casey is also throwing out a ceremonial first pitch.
More soon…
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Mark Sheldon
