Cubs vs. Reds at Mesa preview, Saturday 3/3, 2:05 CT

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona — Take a close look at the photo at the top of this post. What’s unusual about it?

This isn’t a trivia quiz, so I’ll give you the answer. Obviously, that’s Albert Almora Jr. signing autographs, taken earlier this week.

And he’s signing... lefthanded. Almora throws and bats righthanded, so I found this interesting.

Do any of you write with a different hand than you throw or bat, or do other things? Me, I’m righthanded for everything. But perhaps you differ. I’m curious.

The Cubs are hosting Joe Maddon’s “Respect Bald” annual charity event today at 11 a.m. outside Field 1 at the Sloan Park complex. Fans can have their heads shaved alongside Cubs players and coaches; the event will raise money for pediatric cancer research. BCB’s Danny Rockett is participating.

Here are today’s particulars.

Cubs lineup:

Happ CF, Bryant DH, Rizzo 1B, Schwarber LF, La Stella 2B, Gimenez C, Freeman SS, Bote 3B, Hannemann RF

Kris Bryant must have passed whatever “test” Joe Maddon mentioned Friday, as he’s in the lineup again, though at DH. It’s also two days in a row for Anthony Rizzo, for the first time this spring. Kyle Schwarber appears in his third straight game.

Reds lineup:

Hamilton CF, Revere LF, Votto 1B, Suarez 3B, Gennett 2B, Senzel SS, Barnhart C, Elizalde DH, Kivlehan RF

Tyler Chatwood will start for the Cubs. Relievers for the Cubs today: Mike Montgomery, Rob Zastryzny, Carl Edwards Jr., Justin Wilson, Dillon Maples, Dario Alvarez and Alberto Baldonado.

Luis Castillo gets the call for the Reds. Other Reds relievers on today’s list: Robert Stephenson, Oliver Perez, Kyle Crockett, Jackson Stephens, Kevin Quackenbush, Keury Mella and Ariel Hernandez.

Oliver Perez, who is 36 and spent the last two years with the Nationals, was one of this offseason’s free agents who waited a long time for a deal. He just signed with the Reds last Saturday, on a minor league deal.

Today’s game is on 670 The Score with Pat Hughes and Ron Coomer.

MLB.com Gameday

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.

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.

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 2 p.m. CT and 3:30 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.