Pete Harnisch reported feeling tightness in his right forearm, prompting the Reds to shuffle their starting rotation to give him extra rest.

        Originally scheduled to pitch tonight against San Francisco, Harnisch instead will start Saturday against Los Angeles. Rob Bell will move up a day to take Harnisch's place, followed by Denny Neagle on Thursday and Steve Parris in Friday's series opener against Los Angeles.

        Harnisch said he woke up feeling discomfort last Wednesday, when he allowed four runs in six innings at Colorado. “We can't get rid of it,” he said.

        Harnisch said the Reds' medical staff asked him if he had been pitching differently at all. In fact, he altered his delivery on his slider in his second start of the year, April 7 against Chicago. But, he said: “I don't think it's hurting my arm. I don't even consider it an injury. It's more like a strain.”

        General manager Jim Bowden also seemed relatively unconcerned: “It's better to be safe early in the season than sorry later in the season.”

        Bell, coming off strong efforts in his first two major-league appearances, will confront San Francisco's Shawn Estes, who pitched a pair of eight-inning, one-run games against the Reds last year.

        Bell followed his impressive debut against Chicago (three runs, three hits in seven innings) by allowing two runs (one earned) and four hits in 5 1/3 innings Friday at Los Angeles. Bell absorbed the decision in Cincinnati's 8-1 loss.

        Estes, who endured shoulder trouble in spring training, began the season on an injury rehabilitation assignment. Last July 25, Pokey Reese's homer accounted for the only run he allowed in a game the Reds ultimately won 2-1.

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