LOS ANGELES – Joining the Reds in Los Angeles to visit with teammates and check in with the training staff, injured pitcher Alex Wood joked with catcher Tucker Barnhart that he needed to drink a Red Bull before Monday’s game. He wasn’t used to staying up late while rehabbing in Arizona.

Wood hoped to join the team by mid-April, but he had another setback with back spasms after throwing a live batting practice session on the final day of spring training. He plans to throw a bullpen Saturday.

“I’m ready to play baseball,” said Wood, who will remain with the team for the San Diego series this weekend. “I’m itching. It’s been a little bit of a frustrating road for me. It’s something I really haven’t had to deal with, in terms of these back spasms that I’ve had. It’s been frustrating, for sure.”

Wood pitched in a spring training game Feb. 25, then felt his back tighten up following a bullpen. His back flared up again after a simulated game on March 8. He rested for 10 days before throwing off a mound, but then he felt more back spasms at the end of spring.

He will need at least a couple of rehab starts before he’s ready to join the Reds’ rotation, so he will likely remain on the injured list until May.

“I’m pretty much at the point where I’m just taking it a day at a time, really,” Wood said. “If I get to Saturday and throw a ‘pen, and everything is good from there, then we can start talking about a serious timetable. As long as I’m healthy, I don’t think I will need too many starts once I get out there and get going.”

Wood had a 3.68 ERA in 151 ⅔ innings last season. He’s dealt with back issues in the past, but he said this is the first time he’s felt “full muscle spasms.”

“I’ve tried to stay sane,” Wood said. “I’ve watched every game. These guys have been throwing the ball well. We’re starting to come around. I’m excited to be here to watch them play this week and hopefully I will be contributing soon.”

SENZEL PLAYING AGAIN: Reds top prospect Nick Senzel played three innings in center field during an extended spring training game Monday and had two at-bats. It was his first game action since he sprained his ankle while sliding into second base at the end of March.

Senzel is expected to play five innings Wednesday. His ankle healed faster than initially expected, but the Reds don’t want to rush him to risk further injury. If he continues to progress, he could start playing in games at Triple-A Louisville in the next week.

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VOTTO AT LEADOFF: Joey Votto was batting leadoff Tuesday for the second time in his 13-year career Tuesday. The last time he hit leadoff, coincidentally against the Dodgers, was June 18, 2008.

Reds manager David Bell had a conversation with Votto before making the lineup change.

“Obviously, what can you say about Joey? He gets on base,” Bell said. “He’s up for it.

“He doesn’t really care. He wants to do what we feel is best to help us win games. That just says so much about him as a team player. It was a conversation and we shared thoughts and ideas. He was more than up for it.”

Jesse Winker, typically the Reds’ leadoff hitter, was batting third. The lineup had four left-handed/switch hitters spread out, which was a factor in new lineup.

“I don’t think it’s where you have to have it left-right-left-right, but if you can, it helps because it does make it more difficult for them to match up with our guys,” Bell said, “and potentially gets our guys more at-bats against better matchups. It just makes it more difficult. I know managing against other teams, it makes it more difficult when it’s split up a little bit.”

CASTILLO FAILS TO RUN: In the top of the third inning Monday, Luis Castillo hit a fastball into right field, but he didn’t move out of the batter’s box. He examined his bat at the plate while Dodgers right fielder Cody Bellinger fielded the ball and looked up in confusion.

After a couple of seconds, Castillo started jogging to first base and he was easily thrown out by Bellinger for the odd putout.

“When I made contact, I thought it was a foul ball,” Castillo said. “When I realized the ball was in play, I didn’t have time to run to first base. It happens. It’s part of the game.”