After skipping another turn because of flu-like symptoms, Johnny Cueto makes his 28th start this season when he faces the Pirates on Tuesday in PNC Park.
Cueto, 23, was scheduled to face the Marlins on Thursday, but he showed up at the ballpark with a fever Wednesday and was scratched.
On Aug. 20, Cueto was placed on the disabled list with a stiff shoulder. He returned Aug. 31 to face the Pirates and won, giving up one run and three hits in five-plus innings.
He made two more starts after that without a decision, the bullpen blowing a save for him Sept. 12 in Chicago.
Cueto pitched winter ball last year and pitched in the World Baseball Classic, so the club fears he has pitched too many innings and is being extra careful with him.
"We hope he won't pitch winter ball this year, although a lot of pressure is put on young major-leaguers by their countries to pitch in winter ball," said manager Dusty Baker.
Zach Duke (10-14, 3.96 ERA) will get the ball for the Pirates. He’s been excellent this season at home against the Reds, posting a 1.93 ERA while splitting two starts. Cincinnati had better success Sept. 2 versus the left-hander at Great American Ball Park, where Duke gave up five runs - three earned - over six innings in a 5-3 loss.
Duke allowed two runs over 7 1-3 innings and tied a season high with seven strikeouts last Tuesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but left without a win for the fourth straight game in a 5-4, 12-inning loss.
NOTES, QUOTES
--C Corky Miller's three-run home run Sunday was his first since June 11, 2008, for the Braves at Wrigley Field. This is his second stint with his original team, the Reds, and it was his first home run for the Reds since May 26, 2002 at Atlanta.
--LHP Matt Maloney and RHP Justin Lehr won't pitch in the Pittsburgh series this week, but both will pitch in Houston over the weekend. Maloney is battling a blister on his middle finger. Lehr has struggled in his last two starts, and manager Dusty Baker thinks the extra rest should help him.
--RHP Aaron Harang's appendectomy August 23 was the seventh surgical procedure performed on Reds players this year. The others: C Ramon Hernandez (knee), SS Alex Gonzalez (elbow), RHP Mike Lincoln (neck), INF/OF Wilkin Castillo (labrum, INF Danny Richar (labrum), RHP Edinson Volqez (torn ligament).
BY THE NUMBERS: 56 -- Number of games the Reds had won when leading after eight innings until they blew a 2-0 lead after eight to the Marlins Friday. They and had not lost when leading after eight and were the only team in the NL that was undefeated when leading after eight.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "When I played, at this time of the year and you were not in the pennant race, it was called a salary drive, a time for players to show they deserved a raise or a chance next spring training, a chance to make those numbers on your bubblegum card look better." -- Manager Dusty Baker, on what's left to play for after a team is eliminated.
ROSTER REPORT
--RHP Kip Wells is making a bid to be the team's fifth starter next year. Although he is only 2-4 with a 4.84 ERA, over his last five starts he is 2-1 with a 3.52 ERA.
--CF Drew Stubbs likes Great American Ball Park, where he is hitting .328 with seven home runs and 11 RBI in 16 games in his rookie season.
--1B Joey Votto's average slipped below .300 for the first time this season 11 games ago, but since then he has hit .385 (15-for-39) and pushed his average back to .304.
--LHP Daniel Ray Herrera, who is only 5-foot-5 and features a screwball, is making a strong bid to be a prominent player in next year's bullpen. In 66 games as a middle relief pitcher and situational left-hander, he is 4-4 with a 2.87 ERA and has given up no runs and only one hit in his last six appearances.
MEDICAL WATCH:
C Ramon Hernandez (sore left knee) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to July 17. He had surgery July 21, and he was activated Sept. 20.
CF Willy Taveras (right quadriceps strain) went on the 15-day disabled list Aug. 19.
OF Chris Dickerson (sprained left ankle) went on the 15-day disabled list Aug. 24.
RHP Aaron Harang (appendectomy) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Aug. 21. He had emergency surgery Aug. 22 and is expected to miss the rest of the season.
INF Danny Richar (torn labrum in left shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list July 3, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on Sept. 2. He had season-ending surgery July 28.
RHP Edinson Volquez (right elbow tendinitis) went on the 15-day disabled list June 2, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on Aug. 25. He suffered more pain a simulated game July 31, and he underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery on Aug. 3.
RHP Mike Lincoln (bulging neck disk) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 13, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on Aug. 25. He had season-ending disk-replacement surgery July 20.
UT Wilkin Castillo (torn labrum in right shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 21. He had season-ending surgery July 1 and was moved to the 60-day disabled list July 3.