Viva Las Vegas

The Reds played a game in Las Vegas on Wednesday night against the Las Angeles Dodgers.

As the correspondant for MLB.com, I visited Cashman Field, hard by Fremont Street in old Vegas. I took in the Fremont Experience an outdoor video show displayed on a roof of neon that covers four blocks of Binions and the Golden Nugget.

We stayed at the Nugget. I couldn't help checking the sports book to check out what the oddsmakers thought of the Reds chances

Cincinnati is a 6-1 shot to win the NL Central, 20-1 to win the NL Pennant and 30-1 to win the World Series.

One who has the odds in his favor to win the fifth starters job is Travis Wood.

Wood, the Reds second draft choice in 2005, started against the Dodgers.

Once the longshot in a six-man field that included, Aroldis Chapman and Mike Leake.

Chapman was a favorite, having signed a $10 million contract and throwing at more than 100mph. Mike Leake was the first draft choice last year and has pitched at a high collegiate level.

Chapman had a sore lower back that set him back to the point that he won't be available physically. The Reds management is also concerned that culture shock could distract him.

Wood has advantages over Leake. He has worked in a e man rotation during his career.

He is lefthanded. "You prefer to have a lefthander.if you can find them," Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker said. "But you'll take any hander if he's pitching well."

He is already on the Reds 40-man roster.

"Our whole organization is wrestling with this every day. Leake has performed well. There haven't been many guys that can do it (go from college to the major leagues) but there have been some. There is also the problem that he's not on the roster and you have to move someone off the roster. Wood is on the roster.'

Wood retired the first five Dodgers. Then, he walked three straight.

Pitching coach, Bryan Price came out to visit.

The message was to relax, stay on point and throw strikes. He escaped the inning unharmed.

"I started out strong," Wood said. "I hit a lull that I had to battle through."

"He threw the ball good tonight. He had periods where he was overthrowing. He's trying so hard to make the team. When he was around the plate his stuff was electric," Baker said. "We know his control is better than that. There is a lot more in him."

"I