Cubs vs. Reds at Goodyear Preview, Tuesday 3/22, 3:05 CT

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona -- Today's introduction is going to be about something other than the Cubs.

Right about the time this preview posts, the Tampa Bay Rays will begin an exhibition game against the Cuban National Team in Havana. The significance of this event cannot be understated, though I would appreciate you limiting your comments to baseball. It could very well lead to more such games, and possibly more Cubans coming to play in MLB.

Matt Moore is scheduled to start for the Rays. The game is on ESPN (also on MLB.tv online), and you've got two hours to watch it before today's Cubs/Reds game begins.

Now, here are the particulars for this afternoon's Cubs game in Goodyear.

Cubs lineup:

Fowler CF, Heyward RF, Zobrist 2B, Rizzo 1B, Bryant 3B, Schwarber C, Soler LF, Russell SS, Hammel P

There has been talk of having Kyle Schwarber catch Jason Hammel, so this lineup could be very close to what we'll see during the season when Hammel starts.

Reds lineup:

Hamilton CF, Suarez 3B, Votto 1B, Phillips 2B, Bruce RF, Mesoraco C, Cozart SS, Schebler LF, Simon P

Jason Hammel starts for the Cubs. All the Cubs starters have gone five innings, so Hammel could be the first one to go six. Also on the Cubs list to throw today: Trevor Cahill, Brandon Gomes and Jean Machi.

Alfredo Simon, recently re-signed by his former team, will go for the Reds. He has not yet pitched this spring and is expected to go two innings, possibly three. Other Reds pitchers scheduled today: Tony Cingrani, Blake Wood, Chris O'Grady and Caleb Cotham.

Today's game is on cubs.com with Len Kasper and Mick Gillispie. No TV for today's game.

MLB.com Gameday

Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.

Please visit our SB Nation Reds site Red Reporter. If you do go there to interact with Reds fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.

Please note that during spring training, Gameday doesn't usually go pitch-by-pitch as it does during the regular season -- usually, it will update after each at-bat.

For spring-training games, we'll have a first-pitch thread at five minutes to game time and one overflow thread, 90 minutes after game time (because I know how you all like overflow threads!). For today, that will be 3 p.m. CT and 4:30 p.m. CT.

These threads will not post individually onto the front page; instead, you can find links to them in the box marked "Chicago Cubs Game Threads" at the bottom of the front page. There will also be a StoryStream on the front page with all the game thread links, as well as the recap after the game is over. The pitcher boxes and regular-season stats will return on Opening Day.

Discuss amongst yourselves.