Wily Mo

Peña

He should move back into the starting lineup today. ''Once they’re all right, I usually give them one more day to make sure,’' manager Dave Miley said. ''But he’s all right to go out and play in the field.’' His pinch-hit home run yesterday was his sixth dinger of the year and traveled 445 feet.

Pena injured his left wrist on a check swing in the first inning of Friday’s game against Arizona. “When I came off the field, I cried,” he said. “I want to play so bad.” He was ordered not to swing a bat Saturday or today and was fitted with a brace to protect the wrist. “They said a couple of days,” Pena said. “It’s no big deal. I just hope I can play Tuesday.” Darren Bragg started in center field in his place.

“We haven’t discussed that internally,” trainer Mark Mann said when asked if Pena was done for the season. “If in five to seven days, he feels a lot better and wants to play, we’ll look at it.” If Pena is done, he finishes the year at .259-26-66.

“He’s progressing nicely,” Reds trainer Mark Mann said. “But he still has some complaints of soreness.” Pena will play winter ball in the Dominican Republic, and unless the Reds trade someone this offseason, he’ll arrive at spring training as one of four outfielders competing for three spots.

“I want to but I can’t,” Pena said. “It hurts too much.” He remains day-to-day, and fantasy owners should think about reserving him this week.

Pena hasn’t played since Aug. 31 due to a bruised chest. He could be back in the lineup today.

It may take a day or two until the shot takes, so Pena could miss some more games this week.

Cruz would take over the job that was supposed to go to John Vander Wal, and Valentin would be used as a third catcher and a backup corner infielder. Pena has had a very good spring, but the new regime isn’t as interested in developing him as the old one was.

Pena was kept last year because he was out of options. Despite the fact that he’s still clearly not ready for the majors, he probably wouldn’t make it through waivers unclaimed. The Brewers and Pirates are a couple of the NL teams that might be willing to take a chance on him.

Pena got the first start last night, but he’ll likely share the time with Freel.