Thursday lineup, news and reading

The Reds play Cleveland for the third consecutive day. The game begins at 3 p.m. ET and can be seen on MLB.TV and heard on WSAI-1360. You can find future TV and radio coverage for the rest of spring training on the broadcast schedule.

The lineup is:

1. Jake Cave CF
2. Ivan De Jesus SS
3. Joey Votto 1B
4. Brandon Phillips 2B
5. Jay Bruce RF
6. Adam Duvall LF
7. Jordan Pacheco DH
8. Tucker Barnhart C
9. Alex Blandino 3B

Anthony DeSclafani starts on the mound.

Cave and Duvall, who are part of the battle for outfield positions get starts. Votto, Phillips and Bruce return to the lineup. Still no Devin Mesoraco or Zack Cozart. Nothing to worry about there. Alex Blandino gets a start at third base.

Stuff to Read

Mark Sheldon (MLB.com) on Robert Stephenson:

“Once I master the consistency, I think I will be ready,” Stephenson said. “Whether I have to go to Triple-A to do that or figure it out here and have more consistency in Spring Training, I just want to be able to show my best stuff in Spring Training and put that in their hands.”

Zach Buchanan (the new John Fay at the Cincinnati Enquirer) on Kevin Gregg Jason Marquis Jonathan Sanchez:

For the Reds, Sanchez is a lottery ticket. He always had great stuff, and Cruz said he helped Sanchez introduce a cutter into his existing repertoire of a fastball, curve, sinker and split. If Sanchez can exhibit some hard-won savvy and stay healthy, he could provide a valuable veteran presence either in the rotation or the bullpen.

Actual John Fay (WCPO) on Stephenson and Cody Reed’s first appearance:

(Reed:) “But just getting my feet wet in my first big-league spring training game was definitely something to overcome for myself. Now, I feel fine. I’m ready for the next time out.”

C. Trent Rosecrans (Cincinnati Enquirer) on Rule 5 selection Chris O’Grady:

“I’ve done a handful of different things the last couple of offseasons, I was a substitute teacher one year and I bartended one year,” O’Grady said. “Being out in Arizona, there’s no better place than that for golf, so I got a job at a golf course five days a week, paid the rent and played free golf all winter.”

Billy Witz (New York Times) on former Reds closer Aroldis Chapman accepting a 30-game suspension:

By arriving at a number — 30 games — that everyone could live with, Manfred established a strong precedent with the first case under his new policy and thus avoid any possibility that the suspension would be reduced or even overturned by an arbitrator. In particular, he established an immediate contrast with the chaos the N.FL. has encountered in trying to devise a coherent policy on domestic violence.

In addition, by agreeing not to appeal, the union can avoid being put in the awkward position of having to defend one of its players in a domestic violence case.

In his own statement after the announcement, Manfred cited the use of a firearm by Chapman during the episode and the impact it had on his girlfriend, Cristina Barnea, who, according to the police report, hid in the bushes outside his home while she phoned police dispatchers for help.

Chelsea James (Washington Post) writes about former Reds batboy Teddy Kremer visiting Dusty Baker in Nats camp:

As Chris Heisey completed the long walk from the vistor’s clubhouse beyond right field to the dugout at the Charlotte Sports Complex, he spotted a familiar face, and his face lit up. A few minutes later, as a pack of eager fans cheered his name, Dusty Baker’s face did the same. Standing there, waiting for Dusty, was former Reds batboy Teddy Kremer.