MILWAUKEE -- Reds manager Dusty Baker has seven extra players at his disposal and a tightrope to walk when determining how he'll use those September callups.
Of Cincinnati's final 17 games, 16 are against teams that have a fighting chance at making the playoffs. That might prevent Baker from fielding a lineup of fresh faces with little big league experience.
"I'll use them in spots and try to get them a start if I can," Baker said. "But for the integrity of the races and the team, you have to go with your best lineup. Everyone we're playing still has a chance for something. I'll probably play them a lot more than I played when I came up. Some will pinch-hit. Some will pinch-run. We'll see what they can do in the clutch. It depends. I told them all to be ready to play."
Infielders Paul Janish, Danny Richar, Adam Rosales and pitchers Danny Herrera, Jon Adkins, Adam Pettyjohn and Josh Roenicke were officially called up Tuesday from Triple-A Louisville. Adkins faced two batters in the 10th inning on Tuesday and was the winner in a 5-4 victory in 11 innings over Milwaukee.
Janish played 31 games for the Reds during his earlier callup. Rosales and Herrera got brief big league exposure in their previous promotions. Richar, acquired in the Ken Griffey Jr. trade, played 57 games for the White Sox last season. Adkins and Pettyjohn are 31-year-old veterans. Only Roenicke has never been in the Majors before.
"This is an invaluable experience," Baker said of the younger September callups. "Hopefully in the near future, we'll be in the situation on the other side of the coin. You have to feel excitement but control adrenaline and have the coolness of mind to handle different situations and pressures. People say, 'I know I can do it,' but until you're in that situation, you just don't know."
Pitching matchup
CIN: RHP Bronson Arroyo (14-10, 4.84 ERA)
In his last start on Friday, Arroyo struck out the first three Cubs he faced on 10 pitches before getting a big lead and cruising thereafter for his 14th win of the season. The 31-year-old right-hander went 6 1/3 innings and gave up just one run on four hits, striking out six, in the Reds' big win over the Cubs. A high pitch count drove Arroyo out early, as he threw a season-high 122 pitches before being chased midway through the seventh inning. The right-hander has faced the Brewers twice this season, going 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in 11 2/3 innings. Lifetime, Arroyo is 7-4 with a 3.62 ERA in 14 appearances (11 starts) against Milwaukee.
MIL: LHP CC Sabathia (15-8, 2.77 ERA)
Sabathia did his part on Friday against the Padres, but the Brewers couldn't close the deal in time for his 10th National League win. Sabathia allowed a leadoff baserunner in five of his seven innings, but he limited the Padres to one run on five hits and went 2-for-3 at the plate, including a go-ahead single. The lead got away from reliever Eric Gagne, but the Brewers rallied to improve to 11-1 in Sabathia's starts.
Tidbits
Baker said that Chris Dickerson's sore left ankle hadn't improved enough for him to start. Dickerson missed his third straight start on Tuesday and wasn't expected to be in Wednesday's lineup. "He's still sore, and I didn't want to take a chance on him rushing that," Baker said. "Plus with CC, he won't play [Wednesday] and then we have an off-day. So that gives him a good three or four days to get this thing better. We'll need him for Arizona and [Brandon] Webb on Friday. I'll need all the left-handed hitters I can get."