Oct 6, 2012; San Francisco, CA, USA; Cueto pitches the ball against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of game one of the 2012 NLDS. (Photo: Kelley L Cox – USA TODAY Sports)

Johnny Cueto is pitching tonight. In the first of what could be at least a couple of rehab starts, Cueto will take the hill this evening for the Dayton Dragons.

The start will mark a return to the mound for the Reds ace since hitting the disabled list with a lat injury. Cueto was originally scheduled a rehab assignment start last Friday night for Pensacola, but during an exam, there was soreness in the same oblique which forced him from Game 1 of last year’s NLDS. Cueto threw a 25-pitch bullpen session on Monday and there were no ill effects from the session.

Mark Sheldon also reports that on Wednesday, Cueto was playing catch with Miguel Cairo and appeared to throw the ball with a nice and easy motion.

If you are in the Dayton area, the game can be seen over the air on WHIO digital channel 7.2 or if you have Time Warner Cable, on channels 372 and basic cable channel 23 will televise the game. Also, if you are a subscriber to MiLB.tv, you will be able to catch Cueto’s return to the mound.

And in anticipation of Cueto’s arrival…

Murph and Harsh, our clubhouse managers, are ready for a special visitor Thursday. Take a look. twitter.com/DragonsBasebal…

— Dayton Dragons (@DragonsBaseball) May 9, 2013

Cueto will have a tough act to follow after Cincy’s 2011 #1 pick Robert Stephenson pitched well last night in a Dragons 11-4 victory. Stephenson surrendered only three hits over six innings of work and also struck out nine Lansing Lugnuts batters.

If you have the opportunity to go to Fifth Third Field to catch a Dragons game, go! Just a piece of advice. If you’re out in the left center field area by the Dragons Lair and concession stand, take earplugs. When a Dragon player hits a home run, that horn is loud.

But the Reds are criticized as if they’re defined by the aforementioned. Losses to October favorites seem to confirm a lingering doubt that the Reds can’t play with the titans of MLB. And why not? They’re just 6-12 against teams above them in the NL overall standings (Wash, STL, Pitt, ATL). 13-3 against everyone else they’ve played (CHI, MIA, LAA, Philly). Of course, to make any absolute declarations about some of these teams, in May, would be ill-advised. But the fact remains, the Reds are currently cleaning up on the weak while struggling with the best.

And right now, that’s all you can ask.

Last evening’s 9th inning fireworks was a tangible defining moment for this team. Corky Miller, bless his heart, should have Louisville Slugger Field programed into the GPS. He got to bat in the 9th inning and of course struck out with little resistance. Xavier Paul, who is incredibly serviceable off the bench and in spot starts, has just nine RBI. This is the guy swinging the bat for a clean-up hitter who can realistically contribute anywhere from 80-90.

Of course, we are yet to see Ryan Ludwick routinely bat with baseball’s No. 1 and No. 3 OBP leaders. The opportunity to return to his 100+ RBI form would at least be there, no?

The overall records against teams above them in the standings isn’t good, but it isn’t entirely telling. Just two series against teams above .500 have been at home. They defeated the Nationals in a best of the three. They have a chance to steal a series from the Braves today. The Cardinals have feasted on the Reds, in two different series. They’ve yet to fly into CVG.

The product you’re watching on a nightly basis right now should reflect the key missing pieces. The Reds are missing their clean-up hitter. Although Brandon Phillips is 5th in RBI, it’s the #2 spot that often cripples the front-end of the lineup because of Cozart’s struggles. Phillips would once again be the guy benefiting from the protection of the 2010 MVP.

This Reds team seems to be capable of what MLB pundits everywhere thought they were – when at full strength. With three Opening Day starters on the DL, they’re hangin’ tough like New Kids on some Block. At 19 wins, they’re just two short of the most wins in baseball.

Wins like last night should make you think about what the team is capable of with all of its missing pieces. Without them, they still boast the 6th best offense. But what the team does lack is the long ball. Their 31 home runs makes them 21st in the category.

Could just be a reality. Could be the result of exceptional patience (Reds #2 in BB). Or, could be the difference between Ryan Ludwick and Xavier Paul.

Feb 22, 2013; Goodyear, AZ, USA; Cueto takes a batting stance in the dugout during the second inning against the Cleveland Indians at Goodyear Ballpark. (Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports)

So the folks in Pensacola were probably extremely excited to see a player from the Reds do a rehab outing. It’s kind of old hat in Dayton. Won’t happen tonight in Pensacola as Reds ace Johnny Cueto has been scratched from that assignment. It’s not known when it will happen.

According to Reds beat writer for MLB.com Mark Sheldon, the team was delivered the news yesterday that Cueto was experiencing some pain. Not from the lat muscle which put him on the disabled list, but from the oblique Cueto hurt during Game 1 of last year’s NLDS.

Coming off the heels of what was termed a good bullpen session, the hopes were that Cueto would start tonight in Pensacola and in about another five days for the Dayton Dragons. Needless to say, that plan has been moved back with Cueto to receive another exam on Monday.

This undoubtedly is bad for the team. Again, we all know of the good fortune the Reds had with its starting staff last season. Well, until that Game 1 of the NLDS, that is.

So the Reds will forge on with its current rotation of Mat Latos, Bronson Arroyo, Homer Bailey, Mike Leake and Tony Cingrani.

For now, the debate of Leake or Cingrani in the rotation takes a back seat.