The Reds are not planning on going into Opening Day with a dedicated closer, it appears. For the past four seasons, it had been Raisel Iglesias. For 2021, it could up to three or four pitchers who might fill that role on a given day.

“Iggy was definitely that guy for us because he just was best in that role. I think Amir Garrett will be considered a closer,” Reds pitching coach Derek Johnson said on Saturday. “I think Lucas Sims will be considered a closer. At the end of the day, Sean Doolittle may be considered a closer. Really, it's about getting those last three outs in the ninth inning, and we would want to put ourselves in the very best spot to do that.

“I think as long our guys are OK with that in sharing that role, then life is good. I think when you start getting too conventional and thinking that there's only one guy to do this job, it's probably where your team falls apart a little bit.”

Manager David Bell recently said he also wouldn’t be shy about using Tejay Antone at the end of a game for a three-, six- or nine-out save.

“We have to do a good job of keeping those guys informed, number one, and number two, helping them understand that it could be Lucas one night, it could be Amir one night, it could be Doolittle one night,” Johnson said. “It's just going to depend on a lot of different things.”

Injury report
The Reds have been without center fielder Nick Senzel since Thursday’s game as he deals with a left groin strain. However, Senzel is still probable to be ready for Opening Day.

“At this point, we just think it’s a day-to-day thing,” Reds general manager Nick Krall said on Saturday.

It’s been a good Spring Training for Senzel. He’s batting .324/.419/.541 with two home runs and four RBIs in 14 spring games.

Antone, who has been out since March 14 with a right hip flexor irritation, faced hitters in live batting practice on Saturday. The club hasn’t ruled him out from being ready to pitch from the bullpen on Opening Day.

“He's got to jump through a hoop or two,” Krall said. “Right now, I feel good about where he's at. Again, today and the next couple of days will tell exactly where he stands.”

Utility infielder Max Schrock has been dealing with a left hamstring strain since he was scratched from Thursday’s lineup. Schrock, who has had a nice spring, could see his Opening Day chances affected.

“We’re taking that one day at a time. Not sure where that one goes,” Krall said.

Castillo’s final tuneup
In his final start before he faces the Cardinals on Opening Day Thursday, Luis Castillo pitched 4 1/3 innings and allowed two earned runs on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts as the Reds lost, 6-3, to the Cubs.

Castillo struck out the side in the top of the first inning at Goodyear Ballpark.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been able to strike out three in a row in an inning,” Castillo said via translator Jorge Merlos. “That gave me a lot of confidence at the start. It’s something that was a good thing that happened, and you feel a lot of confidence out there.”

Over three Cactus League starts and 9 1/3 innings, Castillo has a 1.93 ERA.

“Today, we pitched around 75 pitches,” Castillo said. “It’s a lot of pitches, obviously. My arm feels OK, and I feel like we’re ready for the start of the season.”

Winker ready to go
Left fielder Jesse Winker slugged his second spring home run in as many days in the first inning against the Cubs.

It’s been a strong spring overall for Winker.

“To be honest with you, once these games started, I felt like it’s gone by really fast, like we’re already at the finish line,” Winker said before the game. "I definitely feel ready. I really enjoyed the work that I’ve done throughout camp, and, yeah, body feels great. Everything feels great. I’m looking forward to the start of the season.”

Open to returns
Even though the Reds released utility infielder Dee Strange-Gordon and lefty reliever Jesse Biddle, the club is open to bringing both players back. They were cut from the Spring Training roster on Saturday. Strange-Gordon had an out clause in his Minor League contract on Friday and Biddle’s wasn’t until Sunday.

“We knew they weren’t making the club, we told them,” Krall said. “They’re looking for something right now, if there’s a big league spot for them, and we would love to have them come back.”

Alternate site games
The Reds have made plans to hold games between their alternate training site and the regionally adjacent clubs. Krall estimated that between 18-21 games could be played. The game would similar to Spring Training "B" games, where the rules and innings total would be mutually agreed upon by the opponents.

All of the details have yet to be finalized, however.

“People coming to our place and we’re going to their place. I think that’s going to be really important,” Krall said. “We didn’t have that last year, and I think that’s going to give us game situations and of those game situations, more reps, more at-bats for our guys where they’re in a game environment and just trying to work through that.”