"The Reds made – or at least announced – three pitching decisions before the taking the field Wednesday against the Oakland A's:

1. Rookie right-hander Mike Leake will be skipped for his next start. Leake was supposed to start Sunday against Cleveland. He'll start Tuesday against Philadelphia instead.

2. Right-hander Edinson Volquez, who threw five innings of one-run ball in a rehab start for Triple-A Louisville, probably will not return until after the July 12-15 All-Star break.

3. Cuban left-hander Aroldis Chapman will get a look in the bullpen. Chapman pitched in relief of Volquez Wednesday. He allowed one run on two hits, walked one and struck out three.

With Leake, it's a matter of preserving him over the course of the year. Right now, he's on pace to throw 200 innings.

The Reds don't want him to throw nearly that many after throwing 142 last year at Arizona State.

"We have a round number," Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said. "Probably 170, but it's not etched in stone."

What happens with Volquez will probably affect what the Reds do with Leake."