Chris

Heisey

Reds manager Dusty Baker told reporters that he didn’t like the matchup of Chris Heisey against Miami left-hander Mark Buehrle. “We’ll go from there,” Baker concluded.

The Reds are just getting their backups some playing time. Chris Heisey will start and bat sixth. Ludwick is still the preferred option, but is batting .150 through six games this season.

He is also leading the majors with 11 strikeouts. But that’s why this is camp, and not the real thing. He still has time to work out the kinks and restore a power stroke that produced 18 homers last season in only 279 at-bats.

He should be good to go in the next day or two. Ludwick is batting just .222 with 12 strikeouts over 36 at-bats this spring and is unlikely to have much fantasy value sharing at-bats with Chris Heisey in left field.

Ludwick got the start in left field on Opening Day, but Chris Heisey later had a pinch-hit double to drive in a run. Many have pegged Heisey as a potential sleeper candidate, but given Dusty Baker’s penchant for playing veterans, we’re not holding our breath.

Ryan Ludwick, meanwhile, has started six games in left. The two seem likely to share that position all year, with the veteran Ludwick maybe seeing slightly more action.

It was his second straight start in left field after he hadn’t started in a week. Heisey is batting just .233 this year and has yet to homer, but we’d still like to see what he can do rather than seeing Ryan Ludwick out there.

Not a surprising landing spot considering Ludwick’s history with current Reds general manager (and former Cardinals general manager) Walt Jocketty. Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports that he’ll make a $2.5 million base salary with the chance to earn an additional $500,000 in performance-based incentives. Ludwick, 33, batted just .237/.310/.363 with 13 home runs, 75 RBI and a .674 OPS last season between the Padres and Pirates. He’ll share playing time with Chris Heisey in left field.

''I’m confident in my ability, Heisey said. ''I understand that there are people out there who are skeptical because until you prove it, you don’t know. I’m trying to be more consistent and build on the results I had in September.’' Heisey is coming off a season that saw him hit .254/.309/.487 with 18 home runs and 50 RBI over 279 at-bats, which projects to 36 homers and 100 RBI over a full season. Still, he strikes out a ton and is best suited for a part-time role. The Reds are known to have interest in free-agents Cody Ross, Ryan Ludwick, and Rick Ankiel.

We’re assuming he’s just getting a routine day of rest. Chris Heisey will make the start in center field while Ryan Ludwick plays left.