Jose Rijo may think he's fit to pitch for the Reds, but general manager Jim Bowden thinks otherwise.

        Bowden said Sunday that Rijo's next scheduled start in his comeback bid will come Thursday at Triple-A Louisville against Durham.

SUNDAY STORY

Rijo pitches Saturday for Louisville

        “When we think he's ready, we'll go ahead and bring him up,” Bowden said. “Meantime, he needs to pitch every fifth day until he's ready to come up.”

        Rijo, who typically has returned to Cincinnati between his minor-league outings, said in the Reds' clubhouse after their 8-5 loss Sunday to Detroit that he hadn't discussed the matter with Bowden.

        “I have to talk to him and see what they want from me, what they expect me to do,” Rijo said.

        Asked if he'd agree to pitch in Louisville, Rijo said, “I have four days to think about it. I'm not too sure.”

        When does Rijo plan on speaking with Bowden? “Whenever he's ready,” the right-hander said.

        Rijo, 36, pronounced himself “ready” to pitch in the majors for the first time since 1995 after allowing two runs and five hits in four innings Saturday while starting in Louisville's 8-7 victory at Charlotte. He had surrendered one run in six innings in his previous two outings with Single-A Dayton and Double-A Chattanooga.

        “What do I need to prove?” Rijo asked Sunday. “Health? I've already proved that. Endurance? I already have,” said Rijo, who threw 76 pitches against Charlotte.

Tigers 8, Reds 5 Bowden says Rijo not ready for Reds Casey should miss only a few days 2 1/2 months since last home save Higginson anticipated Tigers' comeback Reds box, runs

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