The Reds may not have many sure-fire front-line starters, but they do have depth, particularly when it comes to young arms.  While Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo are locks for the rotation to the start the season the battle for the other three spots has been intense.  Veterans Matt Belisle, Jeremy Affeldt, and Josh Fogg all have a chance, but they are going to have to hold off the young arms of Homer Bailey Edison Volquez, Johnny Cueto, and Matt Maloney.

Cueto, who has no major league experience, is making a strong case for a spot in the rotation as he pitched his second straight stellar outing in Friday's loss to the Pirates.  The twenty-year old right-hander is opening some eyes at camp and pitched three scorless innings while striking out four of the 10 Pittsburgh Pirate batters he faced on Friday.

SPRING NUMBERS - thru 3/7
Jeremy Affeldt (5.0 IP, 3.60 ERA, 2 K, 2 BB)
Homer Bailey (5.0 IP, 3.60 ERA, 3 K, 3 BB)
Matt Belisle (4.0 IP, 3.60 ERA, 1 K, 0 BB)
Johnny Cueto (5.0 IP, 1.80 ERA, 6 K, 0 BB)
Josh Fogg (5.0 IP, 1.80 ERA, 4 K, 2 BB)
Matt Maloney (2.0 IP, 36.00 ERA, 0 K, 4 BB)
Edinson Volquez (4.0 IP, 6.75 ERA, 5 K, 2 BB)

If I had to pick today Cueto is the one young arm that makes the rotation. There is speculation that Volquez will likely start the year in the pen and Bailey and Maloney will be headed to Louisville. Only time will tell.

Here are what others are saying about Cueto:

Dusty Baker, Reds' manager
"Sometimes people live up to the hype. Most of the time they don't. He's kind of exceeded the hype so far. I've seen his demeanor, his actions, his desire inside."

Jay Bruce, Reds' outfielder
"Sometimes those guys have no chance -- no chance at all. I asked him how he was throwing, he said, 'maybe 98.' I believe him. He's ridiculous. He's going to be good for a long, long time."

Javier Valentin, Reds' catcher
"If you have that kind of change-up, welcome to the big leagues. He's the next Pedro Martinez."

Paul Bako, Reds' catcher
"I'm impressed with his stuff. I'm also impressed with his command and how effortless his delivery seems and how consistent it is. It appears he's never really out of control out there, which is pretty rare for a guy his age with as good of stuff as he has."

C. Trent Rosecrans, 1530Homer.com
"Put Johnny Cueto in the Reds' rotation right now. Put him third behind Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo -- not because Cueto could be the Reds' third-best starter, but because Arroyo’s done it long enough to have earned the No. 2 spot."