Zach Buchanan

zbuchanan@enquirer.com

GOODYEAR, Ariz. – Cincinnati Reds right-handers Bronson Arroyo and Anthony DeSclafani will make their Cactus League debuts on back-to-back days in the coming week, with Arroyo pitching on Sunday and DeSclafani following on Monday.

Arroyo will face the Milwaukee Brewers in a split-squad game at Goodyear Ballpark, while DeSclafani is penciled in to start at home against the Oakland Athletics. Arroyo will likely go two innings and DeSclafani one.

“We’re going to build him up incrementally, and really just listen to his body on how he’s responding to the workload,” manager Bryan Price said of Arroyo.

Arroyo is still preparing as a starter, but Price reiterated that a bullpen role could be in play if the 40-year-old’s body doesn’t respond well to a heavy workload. He expects Arroyo’s fastball to improve a bit over the 82-85 mph range it was sitting in when he pitched an inning against the team’s minor-leaguers on Tuesday.

DeSclafani, who missed about a week of throwing with a sore elbow, will throw a bullpen session Friday before his Monday start becomes official. Assuming he makes the start, it would put him on schedule to pitch the third game of the regular season on April 7, on the road against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Barnhart scratched

Tucker Barnhart was initially in the lineup for Cincinnati’s road game against the A’s on Thursday but was scratched with lower back stiffness. Rule 5 draft pick Stuart Turner took his spot in the lineup.

Price said Barnhart will rest a couple days, but should catch back-to-back games over the weekend. The Reds have split-squad games both Saturday and Sunday.

“It’s not a big concern,” Price said. “It’s just a stiff back, and especially in that position we’re not going to ask him to try to play through.”