Abbott slated to make Cactus League debut this week

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Whether Andrew Abbott can be ready in time to begin the season in the Reds' rotation remains unknown. But a big hurdle on his path toward making that happen could be cleared this week.

Abbott, who has been on a slower throwing progression because of his left shoulder, is expected to make his spring debut in the middle of this week. The exact game it will be has not been determined.

“It definitely feels good. I feel ready to go," Abbott said Sunday morning at the team's complex in Goodyear. "I think it’s a smart way of doing it, not rushing into it. It’s getting everybody prepared, getting myself prepared and just keep hammering out in the training room to make sure I can bounce back and go three [innings] the next time -- and hopefully progress from there.”

Abbott came to Spring Training on a slower schedule after missing the final six weeks of last season with a left shoulder strain, but he recently threw 32 pitches over two simulated innings of live batting practice against Reds hitters on Friday.

“No further setbacks or anything like that," Abbott said. "With bullpens, I’m on my five-day schedule so I’m back in the normal swing. We’re making sure we are smart with what we do and that we manage the workload properly and kind of go from there.”

There won't be enough time for Abbott to prepare to throw seven innings before the end of camp, but it's still possible for him to reach five innings over the final two-plus weeks.

“I think we have done it right with him," said Reds manager Terry Francona. "How stretched out he is, we don’t know yet. I think come August and September, we’ll be glad we did it.”

Because of an off-day on March 28 -- the day after Opening Day -- the Reds may not need a fifth starter during the first turn through the rotation. However, they will need one the second time around while playing 12 straight games before the next scheduled day off.

Abbott, who was 10-10 with a 3.72 ERA in 25 starts and 138 innings for Cincinnati last season, thinks he can be ready in time.

"Obviously, I don’t make the decisions," Abbot said. "I just have to get myself in the best possible situation -- whether that’s five innings, whether it’s rehab starts. I don’t know what it's going to take right now. That’s a conversation with [pitching coach Derek Johnson] and Tito and the training staff. It’s a little too far in the future to figure that out."

Steer update

Infielder/outfielder Spencer Steer, who has been out since getting a cortisone injection in his problematic right shoulder, was re-examined by the medical staff on Saturday and the results were positive.

“They were really pleased," Francona said. "Probably middle-week, Thursday-ish, he will start his bat progression off a tee. They want to spend a few more days on range of motion and strength. But he’s making marked improvement, which is really good.”

Díaz debuts

Reds closer Alexis Díaz made his spring debut during Sunday's 4-1 loss to the Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium and worked a scoreless bottom of the fifth inning. With one out, Díaz gave up a walk, a stolen base and a single, but stranded the runner on third base when Mike Trout was called for interference when Taylor Ward stole second base.

Díaz was held out of early spring games as a precaution when he briefly felt something in his hamstring after slipping during pitcher fielding drills.

“I felt super. Actually, I felt like I’ve never felt before going out there," Díaz said via translator Jorge Merlos. “I feel like I will be ready to go by the time Opening Day comes.”

Lux to left field

Francona said that Gavin Lux would play left field for the first time in a Cactus League game on Tuesday against the Rockies. Lux has primarily played third base this spring, but getting into left field was always part of the late-camp plan.

“We’ll start kind of introducing him to that a little bit," Francona said. "If he can play the outfield here, he can play it anywhere. Because with the sun and high skies, this is a good test. But he’s more than willing and doing it with a smile. That’s good.”