essential, and I now feel much more confident and ready for Mon

CHICAGO -- Robert Stephenson is back with the Cincinnati Reds this month, getting the chance to finish as strongly as he started the 2016 season.Stephenson (2-1, 4.97 ERA) will make his sixth career appearance, fourth start, when he face the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday at Wrigley Field. He was recalled by the Reds earlier this month.In April, the 23-year-old right-hander became the first Reds pitcher to win his first two big league games since Larry Luebbers in 1993. He earned those victories after Cincinnati right-hander Homer Bailey was deemed unable to pitch at the start of the season as he recovered from Tommy John surgery.Stephenson was sent to Triple-A Louisville in late April, and he spent the bulk of the season in the minors. He went 8-9 with a 4.41 ERA in 24 starts for Louisville, including wins in his final two starts while allowing a total of three earned runs.We want to see Robert, and were giving him a chance to pitch in his regular comfortable role, which is as a starter, Price said when Stephenson was called up Sept. 2. This is an opportunity for him to continue to find his way.In three starts this month, Stephenson is 1-2 with a 6.75 ERA. On Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, he allowed four runs on four hits in five innings during a no-decision.Bailey, meanwhile, threw an uneventful bullpen session at Wrigley Field on Tuesday, maintaining hopes that he may yet see major league action in the seasons final games.He was feeling good so he (wanted) to do it today, Price said. (But) if there is a risk or concern about his surgically repaired injury, then he will certainly not take the field.Bailey had his elbow reconstructed in the middle of the 2015 season. He returned to the Reds this season to make six appearances between July 31 and Aug. 28, going 2/3 with a 6.65 ERA. He subsequently was shut down due to biceps tenderness.Stephensons mound opponent Wednesday will be John Lackey (9-8, 3.42 ERA). The right-hander is the last Chicago starter without a double-digit win total. That is partly due to a stay on the 15-day disabled list with shoulder stiffness last month. He hopes to join the 10-win group in his 28th start of the season.Lackey got a no-decision in his last start -- a 5-4, come-from-behind Cubs win over the Brewers in 10 innings Friday. He is 2-1 with a 2.36 ERA in his past seven starts, but he is 1-2 with a 6.38 ERA in three starts against Cincinnati this season.In his career against the Reds, Lackey is 4-4 with a 3.65 ERA in 12 starts.Behind the Lackey, the Cubs bullpen could have a familiar face back.Right-handed reliever Pedro Strop, out since Aug. 11 after undergoing surgery to repair meniscus tear of his left knee, is expected to be activated from the disabled list later this week. He could make up to five appearances in the final two weeks of the season.Strop threw about 20 pitches in a simulated game Tuesday and reported no problems. He is 2-2 with a 2.89 ERA in 50 appearances this season. Custom Broncos Jerseys . "Hes going to have hip surgery on Jan. 7, and hell be expected to rehabilitate for four to six months beyond that," Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said Friday in an interview. Custom Noah Fant Jersey . Now, with Game 6 set for Fenway Park and an 8:07 p.m. ET first pitch, the Detroit Tigers face the unenviable task of having to beat the Boston Red Sox twice, on the road, to advance to the World Series. http://www.custombroncosjersey.com/ . Clarkson had been dealing with an elbow injury in early January and will be out of action for at least one week. He has three goals and five assists through 36 games with the Leafs this season. Cheap Broncos Jerseys . It is a cliché dragged out by fans and pundits regularly when discussions take place around which teams are better than others. Wholesale Custom Broncos Shirts . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter.Max Verstappen topped the second and final day of the Barcelona in-season test as his fairytale start to life at Red Bull continued. After winning on his debut with the former world champions at the Spanish GP, the Dutch teenager gained further valuable mileage as he continues to familiarise himself with the RB12.Verstappen was running the updated Renault power unit and completed over 100 laps, with a best time of 1:23.267 enough to top the days timesheet. I think it is positive, today was about checking the numbers and the reliability and it was all good. We didnt have any problems and could run the whole day, Verstappen told Sky Sports about the new engine.Asked if he would like the upgraded power unit for Monaco he responded: Of course, you always want more power. Max Verstappen was impressed with the upgraded Renault power unit he sampled during testing in Barcelona. Stoffel Vandoorne was second quickest for McLaren, and was full of praise for the how much the car had improved since he drove it in the Bahrain GP.I had a few laps of adjusting to the car, but it definitely has progressed since I raced it in Bahrain, said the Belgian.The car feels better in every area, with downforce feeling much improved compared to Bahrain.Pascal Wehrlein third fastest for Mercedes. The German, who drove for Manor on Day One, was a late replacement for Esteban Ocon in the W07 after the Silver Arrows decided they needed a more experienced driver at the wheel.Having fielded Nico Rosberg on Day One, it means Mercedes will now need to field young drivers on both days at Silverstone to satisfy the Sporting Regulations, preventing Lewis Hamilton from participating in in-season testing this year.Rosberg is thought to be out of contract at the end of the season and currently in negotiations with Mercedes. Asked if he would be ready to take over in 2017 if Rosberg left, Wehrlein told Sky Sports: Yes I would be ready. Pascal Wehrlein says he is ready for a Mercedes race seat in 2017 if Nico Rosberg was to leave the team.dddddddddddd Wehrlein was the busiest driver of the day, completing 133 laps in the W07. In all, eight of the 10 drivers reached the century lap mark.Among those was Kevin Magnussen, who was also running the new Renault power unit. His 122 laps, combined with Verstappens 118, gives the French manufacturer much-needed information amid rumours the new engine could be introduced as soon as next weeks Monaco GP.Daniil Kvyat was another to rack up the miles, completing 116 laps as he continues to familiarise himself with the Toro Rosso.It was quite an important day for myself today, as being able to get time in the STR11 was essential, and I now feel much more confident and ready for Monaco, said the Russian. Williams continued with their high downforce setup that Alex Lynn had debuted on Tuesday. Felipe Massa was ninth quickest as the team gathered more data for 2017.Making his debut in the 2016 Manor, Jordan King completed 91 laps, but finished over four seconds slower than Verstappen. Barcelona in-season test: Day Two timesheet1. Max Verstappen, Red Bull, 1:23.267, 118 laps2. Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren, 1:24.006, 108 laps3. Pascal Wehrlein, Mercedes, 1:24.145, 132 laps4. Esteban Gutierrez, Haas, 1:24.592, 104 laps5. Antonio Fuoco, Ferrari, 1:24.720, 118 laps6. Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso, 1:24.737, 116 laps7. Alfonso Celis Jr, Force India, 1:25.016, 103 laps8. Kevin Magnussen, Renault, 1:25.133, 122 laps9. Felipe Massa, Williams, 1:27.167, 94 laps10. Jordan King, Manor, 1:27.615, 91 laps Every race live in 2016 Sky Sports F1 brings you every race live in 2016. Fast and easy online upgrade - click here Also See: Hamilton ruled out of Silverstone test Day One report ' ' '