A few hours before Friday's game against Pittsburgh, Reds manager Dusty Baker finally got to fill out a lineup card with the starting combination he hopes to be using for the bulk of the 2009 season.
With right-hander Jeff Karstens starting for the Pirates, Cincinnati had Willy Taveras leading off and playing center field and left fielder Chris Dickerson batting second. That's the pairing Baker expects will help jumpstart the Reds' offense and solidify the defense.
Taveras' illness kept him sidelined for the first two games, while the left-handed-hitting Dickerson didn't start Thursday against New York left-hander Oliver Perez.
"It wouldn't be new if people were healthy and fresh, but we haven't had it like that," Baker said about the lineup.
Dickerson, who celebrated his 27th birthday Friday, batted .286 against left-handed pitchers and .309 against right-handers in 31 games last season, which suggests he could start against left-handers.
"He'll start some against left-handers," Baker said. "It depends on the lefty."
PIRATES-REDS POSTPONED: Manager Dusty Baker probably won't get to use his projected lineup until Sunday after Friday's game was postponed because of rain. The Pirates elected to skip right-hander Jeff Karstens and will stick with left-hander Paul Maholm as Saturday's starter. Baker will push Friday's scheduled starter, right-hander Johnny Cueto, to Saturday and move Saturday's scheduled starter, right-hander Micah Owings, to the bullpen until at least Wednesday at Milwaukee. Friday's game has not yet been rescheduled.
