Cingrani slated to rejoin Reds rotation Thursday

CINCINNATI -- Although the Reds starter for Thursday was listed as TBA as of Tuesday, Tony Cingrani is preparing like he will be making his return to the rotation for the series finale against the Cardinals.

As he usually does two days before taking the mound, Cingrani, who has been on the disabled list with a lower back strain since Aug. 25, threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Tuesday and said he came out of it without any issues.

"It's good," Cingrani said. "Everything is good."

Cingrani is set to make his first start since Aug. 20, when he exited with the injury after just 3 2/3 innings. Should he not be able to start or can't pitch deep into Thursday's game, the Reds have a backup plan in right-hander Greg Reynolds, who has made the last two starts in Cingrani's place.

"He's pitching Thursday," Reds manager Dusty Baker said of Cingrani. "He said he feels good, so we'll see. That's the same day that Reynolds is scheduled to pitch, so we'll see as far as he can go and how he feels. [We] talked to Reynolds about possibly piggybacking with Cingrani."