SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) - The Cincinnati Reds are closer to nailing down a starting rotation after optioning 21-year-old Homer Bailey to Triple-A Louisville.

The highly heralded former first-round pick has been effective in the minors but has failed to show major league control. In his last spring training start on Monday, Bailey walked six in 4 1-3 innings, throwing only 42 strikes out of 84 pitches.

With opening day less than a week away, the Reds' likely rotation will be Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo, with newcomers Johnny Cueto, Edinson Volquez and Josh Fogg.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)