CINCINNATI -- The Reds would love to have exhibition games against other clubs to prepare for Opening Day on July 24. But starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani and others have found a benefit in working against their own teammates.

“We talked as a staff that it's kind of cool to be able to face our hitters multiple times, because now you can get that feedback,” DeSclafani said on Tuesday. “There are so many times when you're pitching during a game, it's like, ‘I wonder what that guy was thinking up at the plate that one time.’ Sometimes it'd be cool to talk to the opposing hitters to see what they think of you. It's kind of cool to talk to our own guys and see what they thought.

“I had a good discussion with [Mike] Moustakas yesterday, just about our at-bat and what I was thinking on the pitch I threw and what he was kind of doing and what his approach was at that point. It was kind of cool to have that dialogue.”

The No. 5 starter in the Cincinnati rotation, DeSclafani pitched 3 2/3 innings on Monday with one earned run allowed, four hits, two walks and five strikeouts. That included a two-out solo home run allowed to Tucker Barnhart.

“I maybe wasn't as crisp as I wanted to be, but the first two outings, I thought, went well,” DeSclafani said, “I think I'm heading in the right direction -- facing hitters now is just kind of the next step intensity-wise. It's just trying to get your timing down, getting the work in and whatnot. Honestly, the season is right around the corner, so there's not much time to try to figure things out. I feel good with where I'm at.”

DeSclafani plans to throw five innings in his next outing. His first regular-season start is slated for two weeks from now -- on July 28 vs. the Cubs.

Backup plans
On Monday, Reds pitcher Trevor Bauer posted on Twitter that he could not be at Great American Ball Park because the results of his latest COVID-19 test were delayed. Bauer wasn’t scheduled to pitch, but the reality of delayed tests could force teams like the Reds to have constant contingencies should a player or starting pitcher have to stay away from a regular-season game.

“The No. 1 concern, like we’ve talked about, is keeping everyone healthy,” manager David Bell said. “Our second priority is winning games and winning a championship. When someone is not available, our first concern is hoping that they are healthy, and beyond that we want everyone available to help us win games. When a starting pitcher falls into that category, it’s something that we would have to deal with.”

Overall, Bell is satisfied with the testing protocols.

“Nothing is ever perfect, and I don’t know what to compare it to, but overall we’re really happy with the results that we’re getting,” he said. “As a team and as an organization, we’re doing a great job so far of staying healthy. I do believe the testing program and all the protocols that have been put in place are allowing that to happen and allowing us to be on the field every day.”

Peña liking the young pitchers
Francisco Peña has been playing at both GABP and Prasco Park in Mason, Ohio, since camp opened. Peña, a veteran of the Cardinals, Orioles and Royals, has had the chance to catch some of the younger pitchers. Two of them stood out -- Tejay Antone and Nick Lodolo.

“[Antone] threw the ball real well the other day,” Peña said on Tuesday. “He had his fastball going from 95-97 [mph] and was throwing strikes. As a young guy like that, you don't see them controlling their secondary pitches as much, and he did a great job with his secondary pitches, as well. He surprised me a lot. He threw the ball real well.”

Antone is ranked as the No. 20 prospect in the organization according to MLB Pipeline. Lodolo is ranked as its No. 1 prospect.

“I caught Lodolo as well, he's a special kid as well,” Peña said. “He has an explosive fastball and a good breaking ball. ... You guys will see a lot of him in the future here in Cincinnati.

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Crowd noise returns
For the first time since Wednesday, the Reds tried playing a scrimmage with crowd noise at the empty ballpark. During play, there was an ambient hum of the crowd and simulated applause for outs.

According to a team spokesman, all clubs will have artificial sounds supplied by MLB from one of its video games. During the first use of noise last week, Joey Votto was not enjoying it and asked for it to be turned off.

“Joey was screaming at the top of his lungs to turn it off,” Bell said. “It’s just different. We were just trying it out. He wasn’t upset. It was kind of funny. We are going to have to get used to new things. But we also can be smart about it and come up with what’s right.”

Paying tribute
Just before the start of Tuesday’s scrimmage, all Reds players, coaches and staff took the field for a moment of silence to honor Priscilla Stowe upon her death. Stowe was the widow of longtime clubhouse manager Bernie Stowe and the mother of longtime clubhouse managers Rick and Mark Stowe. Rick Stowe was on the field standing next to Bell by home plate during the tribute.