Reds (Arroyo) vs. Rangers, 4:05 p.m. – MLB-Network

If you can pull away from March Madness, watch your favorite baseball team on national television this afternoon. The Reds play the Texas Rangers for the second day in a row, this time at the Rangers’ spring training facility, Surprise Stadium. The game will be televised on the MLB-Network and WLW has the radio broadcast. 

You’ll have a chance to watch the Reds’ new leadoff hitter, Shin-Soo Choo and a few other regulars. Jay Bruce and Super Todd Frazier are starting, along with Ryan Hanigan. Devin Mesoraco is the designated hitter. Two players involved in the competition for the final position player spot are also starting — Emmanuel Burriss and César Izturis, with the latter playing shortstop. Maybe you’ll be able to form your own opinion if Izturis is still a “slick-fielding shortstop.”

You can also see Donald Lutz play. The 6-foot-3, 240-pounder who the Reds signed out of Regensburg, Germany, starts at first base and bats fifth. Lutz has already been assigned to the minor league team but has been impressive this spring. Lutz hit .256 with 22 home runs and 66 RBIs in 103 games between Class A Bakersfield and Double-A Pensacola last season. He also played games this offseason in the Arizona Fall League and in Australia. “I like big Lutz. He’s very talented,” Dusty Baker said a few days ago. “He’s very raw, but he’s getting refined in a hurry. He hasn’t played as much ball as the other guys. He’s coming fast. I like what I see. I like his speed for a big man. He works hard in the outfield during batting practice.”

The lineup:

1. Choo 8
2. Burriss 4
3. Bruce 9
4. Frazier 5
5. Lutz 3
6. Heisey 7
7. Izturis 6
8. Hanigan 2
9. Mesoraco DH

Bronson Arroyo pitches for the Reds today. It’s his fourth start of the spring. Jose Arredondo, J.J. Hoover and Logan Ondrusek are also on the trip. 

Mark Sheldon has an item on Mat Latos about his negative X-ray. Latos hopes to not miss his last spring training start.