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“We have a day game tomorrow, so that’s going to be tough,” he said. “I took 45 swings off the tee (on Tuesday) and 45 swings front toss (on Wednesday). I’ll take batting practice tomorrow and batting practice outside on Friday and should be ready to go on Saturday. I’m excited to get my health back.”
Schebler had hit .077 since the All-Star break, sending his overall average plummeting from .254 to .228.
Hopeful Scott: Right-handed pitcher Tim Adleman remained listed as Cincinnati's probable starting pitcher for Saturday's game at Milwaukee, but fellow right-hander Scott Feldman remained hopeful that he would be taking the mound that day at Miller Park.
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“We want to get him out on the field and make sure his agility is competitive,” manager Bryan Price said. “We’ll have to see how he comes out of agility work he did (on Wednesday), and then we have to get the clearance from the medical people. If he’s not ready, then we’ll have to reset him for the next five days. Right now, he’s moving around better than anticipated.”
Even when he returns, Feldman will be encouraged to take it easy on the basepaths, Price said. Feldman believes he’s ready now.
“I feel fine,” he said. “The knee feels good. I hope it feels good tomorrow. I did all the stuff they wanted me to do.”
Rare opportunity: The lineup devised by Price for Wednesday's game had many observers comparing it to a spring training game.
Patrick Kivlehan was in right field with Stuart Turner catching and Arismendy Alcantara playing second base. Kivlehan, Turner and Alcantara had a combined 35 starts going into the game.
Price saw San Diego starting a left-handed pitcher as a chance to rest some regulars. Kivlehan and Turner both bat right-handed and Alcantara is a switch-hitter.
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“I’ve been running those guys out there pretty steady,” he said. “We don’t face many left-handers. It’s one of those opportunities to get the bench players more at bats.”
Hi, Bob: President and chief executive officer Bob Castellini was chatting with pitcher Homer Bailey and catcher Tucker Barnhart on Wednesday when the media was allowed into the Reds Great American Ball Park clubhouse.
Pep talk or parenting advice, Barnhart was asked.
“Both,” the impending father said.
In the blood: The Reds on Wednesday claimed off waivers from the Dodgers right-hander Luke Farrell and optioned him to Triple-A Louisville. The Reds designated for assignment outfielder-infielder Scott Van Slyke.
Farrell, whose dad is Boston manager John Farrell, started the season at Triple-A Omaha, going 7-4 with a 4.07 earned-run average in 17 games. Kansas City recalled him from Omaha on July 1 and he made his major league debut against Minnesota. He was optioned on July 2 back to Omaha and designated for assignment on July 24 before being traded to Los Angeles for cash. The Dodgers optioned him to Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he pitched in one game at Oklahoma City, a start on Aug. 6 at Las Vegas.
Farrell, a 2009 graduate of Cleveland St. Ignatius High School, was originally selected by Kansas City in the sixth round of the 2013 draft from Northwestern University, where he earned a communications studies degree. His older brothers Jeremy and Shane also played professional baseball and currently work in the Chicago Cubs front office.
Bye-Bye: The Reds hit the road after Thursday's 12:35 p.m. series and homestand finale for their second straight 10-day road trip, starting on Friday with the first of three games in Milwaukee. Rookie right-hander Luis Castillo (2-5, 3.64 earned-run average) is Cincinnati's scheduled starter against San Diego on Thursday.
He’ll be opposed in his 10th career start and first against the Padres by rookie right-hander Dinelson Lamet (6-4, 5.12), who has logged three straight wins with a 1.96 ERA over that span.
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