Here’s today’s Cactus League lineup, per Mark Sheldon. The middle of the Reds regular order is hitting today. Brandon Phillips makes his last start before leaving for the World Baseball Classic. JoeyMVP apparently remains undecided about his participation for Team Canada.
Bronson Arroyo makes his first trip to the mound in 2013. The 36-year-old right hander from Key West is coming off a year where he compiled a 12-10 record, 3.74 ERA (4.08 FIP), and a 1.208 WHIP. In 2012, Arroyo continued to see his walk rate fall, posting a career-low 1.56 BB/9. That was the second-lowest BB/9 among qualified starting pitchers last season. Cliff Lee was first at 1.19.
You might remember Arroyo’s last game for the Reds. It was a 9-0 win in Game Two of the NLDS in San Francisco. Arroyo pitched seven innings, giving up one hit and one walk. The performance was also noteworthy because over the seven innings Arroyo threw pitches that registered each and every MPH between 69 and 90.
Heisey 8
Phillips 4
Votto 3
Ludwick 7
Bruce DH
Frazier 5
Olivo 2
Phipps 9
Izturis 6
Arroyo 1
Game time: 3:05 p.m. ET at Camelback Ranch.
In other club news, which many shoulder surgeons were celebrating last night, Mark Prior signed a minor league contract with the Reds. In Prior’s final ten regular season games of 2003, his pitch count was 116, 118, 100, 116, 131, 129, 109, 124, 131, and 133. On Sept. 1 of that year, Prior was allowed to throw 131 pitches in a game the Cubs were winning 7-0. His manager was Dusty Baker.