Pregame notes

Dusty Baker didn't want to Joey Votto to sit too long, thus his start tonight.

"I don't want him on that bench too long,” Baker said. “He’s in there tonight. Tomorrow against the lefty, (Scott Hatteberg) usually is better against the lefties than Joey has been. Joey will be better eventually."

"Votto's got to play some time,” Baker said. "I'd like to play him a lot more. When he’s swinging better, it will be easier."

ON CUETO: Baker won't give Johnny Cueto a pregame pep talk.

"He's got enough people talking to him," Baker said.

Pitching coach Dick Pole, Dominican director Mario Soto and closer Francisco Cordero all have a hand in mentoring Cueto.

"Right now, I just want him to be natural," Baker said. "Pretend it's the same game, which it is, no matter what level you're at."

Baker thinks Cueto will be OK today: "I don't think it will be any different for him, especially if we can get him through the early innings. If we get him throwing strikes earlier, it will be no problem."

Soto's stay will only last a week.

"Mario's got stuff to do," Baker said. "You've got to leave the nest some time."

GONZO UPDATE: Shortstop Alex Gonzalez took batting practice on the field for the first time since he injured his knee.

"He's looking pretty good,” Baker said. "He's a little apprehensive to make certain moves. That brace is not something that’s comfortable to him."

Gonzalez said he'd rather not play with the brace.

"I'm not 100 percent," he said. "It's better. The problem is when I run. Taking groundballs, it feels good."

BAKO V. JAVY: Paul Bako is in the lineup tonight because of Arizona's speed.

"It's not secret that teams run on Javy before (David) Ross," Baker said. "And Ross is not here."