Early in Saturday’s audio webcast of the Reds vs. Giants spring training game, announcers Marty Brennaman and Jeff Brantley discussed how important that day’s starting pitching assignment was for Cody Reed.
Marty intimated that the starting rotation was all but set, with Homer Bailey, Luis Castillo, Sal Romano and Tyler Mahle as the first four. He then asked Brantley if he believed the fifth spot was now a battle between lefthanders Reed and Amir Garrett, and Brantley seemed to agree.
This discussion makes it sound as though Brandon Finnegan won’t be ready for the start of the regular season with the sore left biceps muscle, and it already was clear that Anthony DeSclafani will be out for at least the first month with his strained oblique.