The Reds will start the season minus two starters, SS Alex Gonzalez (sore left knee) and C David Ross (sore back), but both are expected back within a week of the season's start to give the team a full complement of regular players. Jeff Keppinger will fill in for Gonzalez, and Javier Valentin and/or Paul Bako will replace Ross.

ROTATION:

1. RHP Aaron Harang

2. RHP Bronson Arroyo

3. RHP Johnny Cueto

4. RHP Edinson Volquez

5. RHP Josh Fogg

Only Harang and Arroyo are holdovers from last year's staff, which figures to be much-improved if youngsters Cueto and Volquez carry over what they did this spring.

The rotation is entirely right-handed. Manager Dusty Baker said he would prefer a left-hander or two, but that it makes no difference because he would rather have a good right-hander than a mediocre left-hander.

BULLPEN:

RHP Francisco Cordero (closer)

RHP David Weathers

LHP Mike Stanton

RHP Todd Coffey

LHP Jeremy Affeldt

LHP Bill Bray

RHP Jared Burton

The club signed Cordero to a four-year, $43 million contract (the largest ever given a free agent relief pitcher) to shore up the worst bullpen in baseball last year.

With Cordero as closer, Weathers can move back from closer to his more comfortable setup position. The bullpen has three left-handers, which is fine with Baker, especially with veteran Affeldt in the middle of it after an excellent season last year at Colorado.

LINEUP:

1. CF Corey Patterson

2. SS Jeff Keppinger

3. RF Ken Griffey Jr.

4. 2B Brandon Phillips

5. LF Adam Dunn

6. 3B Edwin Encarnacion

7. 1B Joey Votto

8. C Javier Valentin

It is a strong offensive lineup that will score runs, and it will score even more when two injured players (SS Alex Gonzalez and C David Ross) return early in the season.

Patterson, a free agent, was brought in because the club had no legitimate leadoff hitter. He hasn't been effective in that role in his career (.299 on-base percentage in 160 games), but he did well during spring training.

RESERVES:

C Paul Bako

INF Juan Castro

1B Scott Hatteberg

OF/INF Ryan Freel

OF Norris Hopper

The bench should be stronger than in the recent past because Castro, Hatteberg, Freel and Hopper all have played regularly, with Hatteberg playing much of last season as a starter and Hopper filling in most of the season in the outfield.

Freel can play second, third and all of the outfield spots, as he has done in the past, but he missed most of last season with injuries.

ROOKIE WATCH: If this team is to succeed, it needs strong showings from two rookies. RHP Johnny Cueto, who pitched at all three minor league levels last year, was lights-out this spring for all but one appearance. 1B Joey Votto was a strong performer last September and will get a chance to play regularly this year.

MEDICAL WATCH:

LHP Bobby Livingston (left shoulder surgery in September 2007) was placed on the 60-day disabled list Feb. 21. He could be ready by May.

SS Alex Gonzalez (compression fracture in left knee) should be ready by mid-April.

RHP Matt Belisle (elbow tenderness) should be ready in early April.

C David Ross (lower back spasms) hopes to be ready by Opening Day.

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