CINCINNATI -- While the Reds' roster has already expanded, an injured player is hoping to rejoin the team soon from the disabled list. Outfielder Jesse Winker has been on the 10-day DL since Aug. 25 with a left hip flexor strain, but he has made progress.
"I feel like I am very close," Winker said on Wednesday. "I'm hoping soon I can be back out there. We'll see on the exact day. I've been running and doing all of the work outside. It's been feeling great."
In what could be his final test before being cleared for activation, Winker is scheduled to run the bases on Thursday and Saturday at Citi Field.
Winker has been hitting lately in the indoor cage, but he took batting practice on the field for the first time with the team on Tuesday.
"Everything feels great," Winker said.
The 24-year-old Winker is batting .297/.402/.500 with four home runs and 10 RBIs in 30 big league games.

Rotation adjustments
The Reds have adjusted their rotation for the upcoming four-game series vs. the Mets. Sal Romano, originally slated to pitch on Friday, will now start on Sunday so his cut right index finger has a couple of more days to heal. Amir Garrett, who was recalled from Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday, will start in Romano's place on Friday.
Robert Stephenson, who pitched six innings of one-run ball in Tuesday's win over the Cubs, had his next start moved from Sunday to Tuesday vs. the Cardinals.
"That's for no reason. He's not tired," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "We're not keeping an eye on Rob's innings or anything. It gives Sal a little more time to get that thing figured out on his finger, and it won't be an issue on Sunday."

Farrell recalled
Before Wednesday's game, the Reds recalled right-handed pitcher Luke Farrell from Louisville. The move gave the club 18 pitchers, but Price noted that everyone was available. Besides Garrett, Rookie Davis, Jackson Stephens and Cody Reed were called up Tuesday, but they hadn't rested enough from their final Minor League starts. Wandy Peralta (right hip) and Drew Storen (stiff right elbow) haven't been available, and long men Asher Wojciechowski and Tim Adleman have been used recently.
"With Wandy down and we haven't had Storen, who has been a little banged up the last couple of days … I just don't want to overwhelm Lorenzen, Iglesias at the very end of the season in the last month and see them have to pitch because there's a shortage of overall numbers," Price said. "Farrell gives us a little more depth."