GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The race to the 25-man active roster continues for the Cincinnati Reds and manager Bryan Price.
The Reds cut three more ahead of Saturday's spring training test at home against the San Francisco Giants, Price said. Right-handed hurler Jimmy Herget, left-hander Kyle Crockett and catcher Stuart Turner all were sent down.
The roster now sits at 45.
"This is going to be one of those down-to-the-wire events," Price said on trimming the roster in time for Opening Day, March 29 against the Washington Nationals.
Several players have helped their causes, including infielder Alex Blandino, Price said.
The 25-year-old Blandino, who the Reds selected with the 29th overall pick in the 2014 first-year player draft, is batting .346 with five runs batted in in 26 at-bats this spring.
WORKING HIS WAY BACK
Brandon Finnegan threw a light, 15-pitch bullpen session Friday.
Finnegan left his start a week ago with spasms in throwing forearm. It was diagnosed as biceps strain.
Finnegan likely won't be ready to go in time for the start of the season, Price said.
“If the goal was the 9th (April 9), then I’d say yes," Price said. "If the goal was to be on the Opening Day roster, that would be a challenge – to do it as a starter. He really needs to gain reps. We haven’t been able to keep him on a regular schedule. ... We just haven’t been able to build him up and build endurance. That’s going to take time.”
The Reds went 3-1 in Finnegan's four starts last season.
HOMER'S HONING IN
Homer Bailey will make a minor league start Saturday.
"I'd just like him to get his reps in with some intensity and execute some good pitches," Price said of Bailey.
Bailey, widely believed to be the Opening Day starter, is 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA and seven strikeouts in 12 innings of work this spring.
The 31-year-old right-hander began last season on the 60-day DL while recovering from arthroscopic surgery to remove small bone spurs from his right elbow. Bailey, the owner of two of the franchise's 16 no-hitters, has made 26 starts over the last three seasons while recovering from three surgeries.
Bailey, who signed a six-year, $105 million contract before the start of the 2014 season, went 2-3 with a 3.58 ERA in his final seven starts last season, including seven shutout innings in a 6-0 win Sept. 27 in Milwaukee.
Price said he's sending Tony Cruz down to catch for Bailey.