jfay-
The Reds have the schedule for pitching posted in the cubhouse leading right up to the last day of camp. Judging from it, the fifth starter will be Mike Leake or Travis Wood. Consider:
–Wood’s and Leake’s days line up so April 11 — the first start for the fifth start — falls on their normal day.
–None of the other pitchers in the race for the No. 5 spot is on the schedule for more than three innings.
We’re still 20 days away from the first start, so that could change, particularly if both Wood and Leake struggle in their last two spring training outings.
Here’s the schedule (by the way, Aroldis Chapman is not listed on it):
–Tomorrow vs. the Mariners: Leake will start and go four, followed by four from Wood and one from Kip Wells.
–Saturday vs. San Diego: Micah Owings will start and go three, followed by three from Mike Lincoln, one from Nick Masset and one from Daniel Ray Herrera. This day lines up with the second start of regular season. Johnny Cueto, the No. 2 starter, will pitch six innings in a minor league game.
–Sunday: Bronson Arroyo will go six against the Dodgers.
–Monday: No starter is scheduled yet.
–Tuesday: Aaron Harang will go six or seven against San Diego.
–Wednesday: Leake will start the home game against Oakland and go five, followed by one from Lincoln, one from Herrera and one or two from Owings. Wood will start the game in Las Vegas against the Dodgers and go five, followed by one from Ondrusek, one from Justin Lehr and one from Wells.
April 1: Cueto will start against Texas.
April 2: Arroyo will start against Cleveland.
April 3: Bailey will start against Cleveland in finale from Goodyear.