CINCINNATI — Reds right-hander Johnny Cueto was scratched from his scheduled start against the Yankees on Monday night because of a stiff neck that bothered him when he threw the ball.
Cueto has been one of Cincinnati’s best starters lately, allowing only three earned runs in three June starts. Manager Dusty Baker hopes to start him in the second game of the series on Tuesday, although Cueto didn’t sound reassuring.
“There’s a little pain when I throw,” Cueto said. “I’ll probably, maybe pitch tomorrow.”
He said the right side of his neck has been sore for about the last five days, bothering him when he threw during a workout. Baker decided to push him back a day and allow him to get more treatment.
“It’s just a minor problem,” Baker said.
Left-hander Travis Wood was moved up a day to take Cueto’s place in the series opener. Wood pitched last Wednesday in Los Angeles, giving up five hits and one run in six innings of a 7-2 win over the Dodgers. He had never faced the Yankees.
With the switch, Andruw Jones starts in left field for the Yankees in place of Brett Gardner.
The Yankees are visiting Cincinnati for the first time since 2003.
Monday’s Yankees lineup:
Swisher RF
Granderson CF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Cano 2B
Martin C
Jones LF
Nunez SS
Nova P
With George A. King III
