"Once we sent him down [after Wednesday's game], he was going to essentially need 10 days for him to be ready to go," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "And following his start against the Cubs, it makes sense to make at least one start in Triple-A, and throw the ball better than he did against Chicago."
Cincinnati needs a starter after it traded Cueto to the Royals on Sunday for left-handed pitching prospects Brandon Finnegan, John Lamb and Cody Reed.
"We've got a couple of guys in mind," Price said. "I've spoken to [pitching coach] Teddy Power in Triple-A and got some insight from him on what he's seen.