Reds’ Chapman touches 100 mph against Dodgers

Aroldis Chapman’s second spring outing was just as impressive as his first, even if he couldn’t find his slider in a two-inning stint versus the Dodgers. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer’s John Fay, Chapman hit 100 mph on the gun while allowing two singles, walking none and striking out two in a pair of scoreless frames. Chapman said after the game that he was struggling to finish his slider, so he opted to go fastball-changeup. According to Fay, both strikeouts came on changeups, one at 90 mph to Matt Kemp and another at 83 mph to Casey Blake. Chapman is auditioning for the fifth spot in the Cincinnati rotation after signing a $30.25 million contract in the offseason. The Reds have been non-committal on whether they believe he’d be better off starting in the majors or in the minors. Catcher Ramon Hernandez, though, believes he’s not far away. “I’ve only caught him four innings,” Hernandez said. “But if he’s not ready, he’s close.”