By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Reds announced that right-hander Paul Wilson would make the April 6 start.

Wilson felt fine Tuesday after pitching four innings in a minor-league game Monday.

"I felt the normal day-after-you-pitch soreness," Wilson said. "Not even that, really. I feel that when I get 80 or 90 pitches."

EVERYBODY IN: Reds manager Bob Boone plans on starting his regulars for the two exhibition games with the Cleveland Indians at Great American Ball Park on Friday and Saturday.

"Everybody will play," Boone said. "We'll see how everybody feels as to how long they play."

Ryan Dempster will start Friday's game; Jimmy Anderson will start Saturday's game.

MORE PRAISE: Boone has taken every chance he gets to predict a big year for catcher Jason LaRue.

"He's my sleeper," Boone said. "He's going to have more walks than strikeouts."

That would be quite a turnaround. LaRue struck out 117 times and walked 27 last season. But this spring, LaRue has walked seven times and has struck out six times.

Boone also has been impressed with LaRue's improvement in calling a game.

"He understands what (pitching coach Don Gullett) and I want," Boone said. "He's gotten much better. That's experience."

AGBAYANI GONE: The Reds sold the contract of outfielder Benny Agbayani to the Kansas City Royals for an undisclosed amount. The Reds signed Agbayani off waivers from the Boston Red Sox on March 15.

AUSTIN SHINES: Jeff Austin, the right-hander obtained in the trade with Kansas City on March 6, made his first start in two years Tuesday.

He pitched 41/3 innings, allowing one run on four hits in the Reds' 2-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins.

"It was pretty awkward after not starting for two years," he said. "I had to ask Kelly Stinnett when to start throwing."

Austin will be used as a starter at Triple-A Louisville.

"I like starting," he said. "But I don't want to limit myself. I want to do anything I can to contribute, whether that's starting or relieving."

Austin, the third player taken in the 1998 draft, has been terrific since being traded to the Reds. He has pitched 121/3 innings and allowed only two runs on 10 hits.

"I'm really tickled with him," Boone said. "(Gullett) made some adjustments right after we got him, and you really see the difference."