By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - The Reds will announce their Opening Day starter today.

Paul Wilson was the early favorite. But Cory Lidle has been so superior in his four starts this spring that he will likely get the nod.

Lidle, a 32-year-old right-hander, is 1-0 with a 2.12 ERA. He's gone five, then seven innings, in his last two starts.

Lidle, the Reds' biggest free agent signing in the offseason, was 12-15 with a 5.75 ERA last year for Toronto. But he battled injuries most of the year. The Reds are hoping he can return to his form of 2001 and 2002, when he was with the Oakland A's. Lidle went 13-6 with a 3.59 ERA in 2001 and 8-10 with a 3.89 ERA in 2002.

The Reds are at the point in the spring where they need to get the rotation settled, so pitchers can establish a routine leading up to their first start of the regular season.

"This week, we'll probably position guys so they line up like they will in the rotation," pitching coach Don Gullett said.

The rotation, if camp ended today, would probably be Lidle, Wilson, Jimmy Haynes, Jose Acevedo and Aaron Harang.

Jesus Sanchez and Brandon Claussen remain in the race. But Sanchez (1-1 with a 3.00 ERA) may end up working out of the bullpen. Claussen (0-2 with 4.50 ERA) has only made one big-league start and had missed significant time following ligament replacement surgery in June 2000, so the Reds may want to use caution with him.

AS FOR THE 'PEN: Gullett said the Reds will start getting relievers used to their roles.

"You're going to start to see guys pitch on back-to-back days, guys go two innings," Gullett said.

To that end, Todd Van Poppel started Monday's game instead of Wilson, who was moved back a day.

"We wanted to stretch Van Poppel out," manager Dave Miley said.

Van Poppel went 2 1/3 innings, Phil Norton 1 2/3 and Brian Reith 1 1/3.

THE A TEAM: The New York Yankees are expected to bring Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Kenny Lofton to Sarasota for tonight's game with the Reds. Former Reds Felix Heredia and Gabe White are also on the travel squad.