Tucker Barnhart is starting again Sunday for the sixth time in 12 games, and he's likely to continue splitting time relatively equally with Brayan Pena going forward.

Barnhart is starting again Sunday for the sixth time in 12 games, and he's likely to continue splitting time relatively equally with Brayan Pena going forward.

Analysis:

Barnhart has been a pleasant surprise at the plate, hitting .276/.326/.414 in 87 at-bats. He's known more for his defensive prowess, but with the Reds using so many young pitchers (and likely to go younger if they trade Johnny Cueto and/or Mike Leake), perhaps that will be more of a priority too. "In part, he's swung the bat well but Brayan has swung the bat well also," manager Bryan Price said on Sunday morning. "I think he's earned the right to play and to kind of split time with Brayan. I think you'll see every five days, it will be three-and-two. That three one time might be three starts for Pena and two for Tucker and then flip it around. It will probably look that way for the rest year – go back and forth for three out of every five."