TAMPA, Fla. — As with most things concerning Reds pitching, it's subject to change, but the rotation is set for now.

        The five starters will be Elmer Dessens, Joey Hamilton, Jose Acevedo, Chris Reitsma and Jimmy Haynes.

        Not necessarily in that order.

        “We're not trying to hide anything from anyone,” Reds manager Bob Boone said. “It's a matter of the order and clearing some roster spots.”

        Haynes and Hamilton are in camp as non-roster invitees. They must be added to the 40-man roster, which is at 39.

        The race for the starting rotation began with 12 to 14 pitchers when the Reds opened camp. Injuries took Brian Bohanon, Lance Davis, Jose Silva and Seth Etherton out of the race. The Reds decided not to rush young pitchers Ty Howington, Ricardo Aramboles, Brian Reith and Luke Hudson.

        The two pitchers still in the race until the end were Jose Rijo and Danny Graves.

        Boone's committing to Dessens, Hamilton, Acevedo, Reitsma and Haynes means Graves is definitely the closer and Rijo will have to make the team as a reliever.

        If you went on spring training results, both would be in the rotation. Graves entered Tuesday with a 0.75 ERA over 12 innings. He had allowed six hits and one walk and had struck out seven. Rijo had retired all 15 batters he faced entering Tuesday.

        Boone continually has waffled on the Graves decision.

        “I keep holding that reservation,” Boone said. “But right now, he's going to be on the back end, closing games. We just don't have anyone else.”

        Rijo made only one start this spring. Rijo's history — he came back last year after missing six seasons because of five surgeries on his elbow — scared the Reds off committing to him as a starter.

        “Jose is such an unknown,” Boone said. “It's almost like a rookie. Being a starting pitcher is a pretty serious commitment. You want someone who can throw 200 innings.”

        The Reds see Haynes and Dessens as two pitchers capable of that. That's why the team is willing to excuse their ineffectiveness in spring training.

        Dessens is 1-1 with a 9.00 ERA in four starts this spring.

        “Elmer has thrown the ball as well as I've seen him,” Reds pitching coach Don Gullett said. “Obviously, the end results aren't there yet. But he's in great physical condition.”

        Dessens, a 30-year-old right-hander, has gone 21-19 the last two seasons. Last year, he became the first Reds pitcher to throw more than 200 innings (205) since 1998.

        Haynes is 0-3 with a 6.00 ERA in four appearances this spring. A 29-year-old right-hander, Haynes was 8-17 with a 4.85 ERA with the Milwaukee Brewers last year. He went 12-13 with a 5.33 ERA over 199 1/3 innings in 2000 with the Brewers.

        “He's thrown the ball well,” Gullett said. “But he's made mistakes up in the (strike zone). He needs his curveball to come around.”

        The Reds have nearly two weeks before Opening Day, so things could change.

        There's the possibility of bringing Howington or Reith back from minor-league camp.

        “We could,” Boone said. “But I don't expect to, although stranger things have happened.”

        As for the order of the aforementioned five, there won't be a lot of time to speculate. Boone plans to set the rotation order in the next three or four days so they all are on their proper rest for their first starts of the regular season.

        Hamilton, a 31-year-old right-hander, has pitched as if he were the Opening Day starter. He has a 0.69 ERA this spring and has allowed only seven hits and one walk while striking out 11 in 13 innings.

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