CINCINNATI -- The Reds have decided to go with Sal Romano to start on Wednesday vs. the Cardinals, which means the club will temporarily work with a six-man starting rotation.
Romano had been available from the bullpen this weekend vs. the Pirates. When Homer Bailey is activated from the disabled list to start on Tuesday, that likely means someone from the eight-man bullpen will have to be taken off the 25-man roster.
"That will be a little bit of a challenge," interim manager Jim Riggleman said on Sunday. "We'll see how that works out. If it puts too much strain on the bullpen, then we would not stay with that."
There's a good chance that the six-man rotation will not be a long-term scenario anyway. The non-waiver Trade Deadline looms on July 31, and Sunday's starter, Matt Harvey, is a leading candidate to be dealt.
But what if Harvey isn't traded?
"If he isn't traded -- I've really gotten no indication he's going to be traded -- we would not stay with six for a long period of time," Riggleman said. "I guess we could if we ran into a long period of very few off-days, and those guys are giving us six innings. If they're not, then we're really putting a strain on the bullpen."
Romano is 5-8 with a 5.19 ERA in 20 games this season, including 19 starts. His lone relief appearance was 1 2/3 scoreless innings on July 15 at St. Louis.
Schebler could be ready soon
Reds right fielder Scott Schebler could be activated from the 10-day disabled list when eligible on Wednesday. Schebler, who went on the DL on Wednesday (retroactive to July 15) with a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder, has been hitting in the cage.
"He knows when he's ready to play. I think it will be any day now," Riggleman said.

Schebler was injured on July 14 at St. Louis when he crashed into the wall to make a catch. Despite the 10 days of being out, Riggleman did not expect Schebler to need a rehab assignment.
"It hasn't been that long," Riggleman said. "If he's out 10 days, I don't know that he would need to do that. We might do some live batting practice or a simulated situation or something. We'd like to get him back in there as soon as possible."