Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

CINCINNATI — One part of the trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers has worked out well with the hitting, defense and baserunning of outfielder Yasiel Puig.
Now the Cincinnati Reds get to see how another big part of the trade works.
The Reds were counting on 28-year-old left-handed pitcher Alex Wood to bolster their starting rotation. The starting pitching has been good this season but Wood hasn’t been a part of it.
Wood went on the disabled list during spring training and has yet to throw a pitch in for the Reds in the regular season.
But that will change on Sunday when Wood is activated and inserted into the lineup for his season and Reds’ debut against the Colorado Rockies.
After one spring training appearance on Feb. 25, Wood was said to have lower back spasms and the rehabilitation process continued to drag on with several setbacks.
Wood began a 30-day rehab assignments in the minor leagues on July 6 at Double-A Chattanooga and this past Monday worked six innings in his fourth rehab start allowing just one run.
Reds’ manager David Bell said the rehab reports were very positive which gave the team confidence that Wood was ready to return.
“Excellent reports,” said Bell. “He was really good. He felt great. He pitched really well, was really sharp.”
An All-Star in 2017, Wood was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers during the offseason in a deal that also brought Kyle Farmer, Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig to the Reds for prospects Jeter Downs and Josiah Gray along with veteran pitcher Homer Bailey.
Farmer has played well when called up but Kemp was released in May. The Dodgers cut Bailey almost immediately and he signed with Kansas City. He was later traded to Oakland.
Wood was 9-7 last season for the Dodgers when he started 27 of the 33 games he appeared. In 151.2 innings, he struck out 135 batters while posting a 3.68 earned run average.
Wood is expected to go against the Rockies’ right-hander Peter Lambert who is 2-1 with a 6.06 ERA.
Sunday’s game at Great American Ball Park begins at 1:10 p.m.
The Reds will send ace Luis Castillo (9-3) to the mound on Friday against the Rockies’ German Marquez (9-5). The game begins at 6:40 p.m.
On Saturday, Cincinnati’s Anthony DeSclafani (5-5) goes to the hill against a pitcher to be determined by the Rockies.
After Wood and Lambert battle on Sunday, the Reds host the Pittsburgh Pirates for three games.
Sonny Gray (5-6) faces the Pirates Jordan Lyles (5-7) on Monday, Tanner Roark (6-60 goes against Pittsburgh’s Joe Musgrove (7-8) on Tuesday and then Castillo faces Dario Agrazal in a 12:35 p.m. game on Wednesday.