Cactus League Game 29: Padres at Reds

Brandon Finnegan will get a start for the Cincinnati Reds on April 9th, at least that’s the current plan given his forearm setback. Today, though, will be a major hurdle for him to clear to be able to pull off that regular season start, as he’ll face the San Diego Padres in Goodyear in what’s likely his final Cactus League action of the year.

Jared Hughes, Ariel Hernandez, and Amir Garrett are a few of the pitchers listed as available to back Finnegan in his outing today, and it’ll certainly be interesting to see how deep into the game Finny gets.

First pitch is set for 4:05 PM ET, though you’ll have to follow along with your ears only.

Cincinnati Lineup

San Diego Lineup

Other Notes

• Cliff Pennington has been informed that he’s going to make the Reds, according to The Enquirer’s John Fay. Adding Pennington to the roster makes the 40-man full, though I’m sure there’ll be other roster moves in the coming week that’ll further jumble that number.
• The Reds are also apparently kicking around the idea of having Tony Cruz ride pine on the active roster as a 3rd catcher, which would free up either Devin Mesoraco or Tucker Barnhart for key pinch-hit duties (depending upon which one started). Not only is that a fairly mundane idea, giving Cruz a roster spot solely for that when Stuart Turner is already occupying a 40-man spot seems...well, efficient certainly isn’t the word.
• Five days until Opening Day, folks. Five more days and it’s all real once again.