SARASOTA, Fla. — The race for the Reds' rotation — which started out as a field of 12 or 13 depending on what day you asked — is down to six.

        Lance Davis was put on a four- to six-week strengthening program Wednesday after an MRI showed inflammation in the back of his shoulder.

        Also, it's clear that Seth Etherton isn't ready to join what is shaping up as a pretty good competition.

        Starter Chris Reitsma threw five shutout innings in the Reds' 9-1 loss to Detroit Wednesday. Throw out the Davis disaster Tuesday, and the Reds starters have allowed only one run over their past 21 2/3 innings.

        So despite the bad news on Davis, the Reds appear to be in decent shape.

        “We've got a pleasant problem,” Reds manager Bob Boone said. “We've got a lot of guys pitching well. We're going to take the best five.”

        It would seem that four of the five are clear: Elmer Dessens, Joey Hamilton, Jose Acevedo and Reitsma.

        Dessens is the one pitcher the Reds have been calling a lock all along, based on his 21-19 record over the past two years. Hamilton, Reitsma and Acevedo have pitched so well this spring that if they stay healthy and don't blow up over the last 2 1/2 weeks, they'll be in.

        That leaves the fifth spot as a battle between Jimmy Haynes and Jose Rijo. The Reds love Haynes' arm. Haynes has pitched 894 innings in the majors since Rijo last made a big-league start.

        But Haynes, a 29-year-old right-hander, hasn't been very effective this spring. He has a 5.63 ERA and has allowed 13 runs in eight innings. Haynes' start Friday against the Detroit Tigers is key for him.

        Rijo joined the race for the rotation late. But his outing Tuesday — three perfect innings, two strikeouts — demands another look.

        The Reds have been hoping that Etherton would be in the competition. But the strained lat muscle is still bothering him. The soreness is unrelated to the shoulder surgery Etherton had last March.

        “It's something I'm going to have to pitch through,” Etherton said.

        Etherton will throw a bullpen session today. He hopes to face live hitting Saturday.

        Though the competition seems to be down to six, the Reds also could call up top prospect Ty Howington.

Davis, Etherton out of Reds rotation Davis needs strength, not surgery Williamson makes return tonight Tigers 9, Reds 1 Players reject owners' proposals

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