Right fielder Jay Bruce has missed the last three games with a swollen right hand but is hopeful of playing Tuesday when the Reds open a three-game series against the Cubs in Wrigley Field.
Bruce first injured the hand April 13 in Milwaukee when he was hit by a pitch thrown by Yovani Gallardo. While the hand was swollen, Bruce was in no pain and played the entire three-game series. He also played the first game of a four-game series in Houston, but he felt something pop when he tried to check his swing. He was in the lineup before Saturday's game but was a late scratch and missed the last three games of the series.
Bruce hit off a tee Monday for the first time and passed a hand strength test, "so I'm hopeful I can play Tuesday and help my team. I know I haven't helped much so far, but it's early and hard to judge on only 35 at-bats."
Bruce is hitting .176 with one double, one homer and five RBI and admits he is fighting to keep from swinging at pitches out of the strike zone.
REDS 4, ASTROS 3: RHP Bronson Arroyo became the first Reds pitcher since LHP Pete Schourek in 1996 to win his first three starts of the season, holding the Astros to three runs and nine hits over seven innings. 1B Joey Votto preserved Arroyo's win with a two-run double in the seventh to bring the Reds from 3-2 down to a 4-3 lead as the Reds took three of four from Houston and are 5-2 on the trip with three left in Chicago.
