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GOODYEAR, Arizona – Cincinnati Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott will open the season on the injured list, leaving the fifth spot in the starting rotation to right-hander Carson Spiers when the season opens next week.
Abbott was behind other pitchers in camp because his progression was "slow played" as a precaution coming off last year's shoulder injury, and he lost an addition couple days in camp because of a flu bug going around early in camp.
"If everything went perfect, he could have started Game 5 (of the season)," manager Terry Francona said. "When you kind of think about it, he'd be pitching a (spring) game out here on Opening Day, and so he'd have to be on the active roster, and if we had a hiccup – so we kind of explained that to him."
Spiers had one of the strongest camps among starter candidates.
With the decision to make Spiers the fifth starter for the start of the season, the other pitcher who had been in the mix to potentially backfill for Abbott, Graham Ashcraft, was told Thursday he'll work out of the bullpen.
Asked early in the week about Ashcraft's potential as an effective late-inning reliever, Francona said, "I could see why somebody would ask that. He'd probably be pretty good."
The Reds also on Thursday optioned bullpen candidate Lyon Richardson to Triple-A Louisville, leading 15 healthy pitchers for 13 spots.
Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Nick Martinez, Brady Singer and Carson Spiers take up five of those in the rotation.
Another six relievers appear to be locked in, barring injuries: left-handers Brent Suter, Taylor Rogers and Sam Moll, and righties Tony Santillan, Scott Barlow and Emilio Pagán.
Struggling closer Alexis Diaz would be seven if he's not optioned.
Francona said that after Diaz pitched in a minor-league game Tuesday pitching coach Derek Johnson called it "a step in the right direction."
"I think we still has some work to do," said Francona, who added Diaz will pitch once more this weekend before the pen is set.
Francona was asked if Diaz is still the Reds closer?
"I think we want to make sure he's got his legs under him with delivery and everything," the manager said. "We know what he can do. We just want to make sure he's ready to do it."
The three others vying for the last bullpen spot(s): Ashcraft, right-hander Ian Gibaut and lefty Joe La Sorsa.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Reds' Andrew Abbott to open on IL; Carson Spiers 5th starter
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