Reds happy with Finnegan's sim game results

PITTSBURGH -- The Reds were pleased with how lefty starting pitcher Brandon Finnegan performed during a simulated game Wednesday with Triple-A Louisville, but they are not ready to bring him back for the next chance to start on Monday.
Instead, Cody Reed will start the series opener for Cincinnati against the Phillies. Finnegan, who is working his way back from a left biceps strain, threw 86 pitches and recorded 17 outs with four hits, two walks and nine strikeouts.
"All the reports were good," Reds manager Bryan Price said on Thursday. "He's got about 20 innings now. We're going to shoot to get him one more start in Louisville on Monday. At that point in time, we're hoping he'll be ready to come up and join us the next time through the rotation. We'll have to wait and see. It's very encouraging, but we do want to get his innings up a little bit before we actually activate him."
Reed, who had his season debut vs. the Cubs wiped out by a rainout on Tuesday, also pitched on Wednesday in a simulated game at Louisville and gave up two hits and three walks with six strikeouts while throwing 89 pitches.

Injury report
Reliever Michael Lorenzen (right teres major strain) was re-examined by a doctor on Wednesday, but was not cleared to resume throwing. That could happen in less than a week, Price reported.
"All the reports were good," Price said. "He'll be re-examined again after he's played his first couple games of catch just to verify that nothing's happening through that initial game of catch."
Reliever Kevin Shackelford (right forearm strain) has started a throwing program and could throw a bullpen session in the next few days.
Frigid conditions
Like much of the northern United States this week, it will be chilly, and sometimes wet, throughout the four-game series at PNC Park. Forecasts call for temperatures in the 30's and 40's during games, with wind chills making it feel colder.
"The advantage to me goes to the starting pitcher," Price said. "They have all the time to prep to get the body warm. They can leave the clubhouse warm. They go out there and run on the field and keep the body warm and loose, and then they get to throw 30-40-50 pitches in their pregame warmup to make sure they're all the way loose.
"The key is, once you're warm and loose, you don't give that away. Sometimes a long inning will do that."
Reds pitcher Sal Romano, who is scheduled to start on Saturday, is used to working in the cold as a resident of Southington, Conn.
"It's no different. You just have to stay warm between innings, keep your body in condition to go out there and pitch. It's no excuse," Romano said. "I try not to come inside because then you get too warm. I just put a heavy coat on and try to stay warm that way. I try to have quick innings, try to have contact and the strikeouts come when they come."
Turner clears waivers
Catcher Stuart Turner, who was designated for assignment on Saturday to clear a 40-man roster spot for pitcher Yovani Gallardo, cleared waivers on Wednesday. Turner was sent outright to Triple-A Louisville, where he was sent during Spring Training.
The organization felt fortunate that Turner, who was on the big league roster throughout the 2017 season as a Rule 5 Draft pick, was not claimed.
"That was not a guy anybody wanted to lose," Price said. "This year represents Stuart's first opportunity to play regularly since 2016. It's an important time for him, not just to get the at-bats but to get the regular time behind the plate and continue to refine his game to where he can come up and help us when we need him."