Rotation notes: Wood, DH starters, DeSclafani

CHICAGO -- Reds' injured left-handed starter Alex Wood could see his time of desert isolation end soon. Wood, who has not pitched all season because of lower back spasms, has been rehabbing at the team complex in Goodyear, Ariz.

“We’re trying to find a day soon for him to come join us, stay with us and continue his throwing program,” Reds manager David Bell said prior to Saturday's 8-6 defeat. “That could happen while we’re back in Cincinnati, which would be nice to have him around.”

Acquired in the seven-player trade with the Dodgers in December alongside Yasiel Puig, Kyle Farmer and Matt Kemp, Wood hasn’t pitched since a Spring Training contest on Feb. 25.

On a couple of occasions, Wood was close to turning a corner, only to have setbacks in March and April. There is no timetable for when he could finally join the rotation and make his Reds debut.

“If all goes well, he would stay with us and keep his throwing program up until the time he needs to start adding bullpens, and hopefully he takes the next step of pitching in games on a rehab assignment,” Bell said.

Rotation set for doubleheader

For Monday’s day-night doubleheader vs. the Pirates at Great American Ball Park, Bell revealed that Luis Castillo would start Game 1 and Sonny Gray would get Game 2. However, that means the Reds will have to find a starter to pitch Tuesday.

Cincinnati could either make it a bullpen day and piece Tuesday’s game together with relievers or callup a starter from the Minor Leagues.

“That’s exactly it. I don’t know when we’ll make that decision yet,” Bell said. "It could be later, even sometime on Monday.”

At Triple-A Louisville, Lucas Sims has performed the best amongst the starting group. At Double-A Chattanooga, both lefty Scott Moss and right-hander Tony Santillan, the club's No. 5 prospect per MLB Pipeline, are having strong seasons. However, neither Moss nor Santillan are on the 40-man roster.

Bell and the club could have opted to use the 26th man allowed under the rules for Monday to serve as a starter called up to pitch in the doubleheader, but they chose not to go that route.

“It’s what is best for both guys,” Bell said. “Sonny has been on extra days rest. Castillo has been -- the last two times -- on a little bit of shorter outings. We really based it on what was best for those two guys and putting our best foot forward for the first two games. There is an off-day on Thursday also. We can see what happens Monday, and then we can split those guys up because of the off-day.”

DeSclafani struggling

In his last three starts, Reds pitcher Anthony DeSclafani has not pitched beyond four innings while posting a 9.26 ERA with seven home runs allowed. DeSclafani has given up three homers in back-to-back starts -- including during his 3 2/3 innings that resulted in a no-decision with the Reds' 6-5 win over the Cubs on Friday.

DeSclafani had a 3.65 ERA over his first seven starts of the season, with six homers allowed.

“We’ve seen him have success and he’s going to be fine,” Bell said. “He has run into a couple of teams with the best left-handed hitters in all of the game with the Dodgers and Cubs. It just creates an opportunity to see if there are any little adjustments that could be made. He should remain confident. He has shown that he can do it. He’s an important part of our rotation.”