GOODYEAR, Ariz. Rudy Gobert Jersey . -- Alfredo Simon has spent most of his major league career as a reliever. Hes going to get a chance to be a starter for the Cincinnati Reds at the start of spring training. Mat Latos has been slowed by knee surgery, so manager Bryan Price has decided to use Simon as a starter during spring training. The idea is to get him ready to pitch more innings in case hes needed when the season begins. Latos had minor surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left knee when camp opened. Hes making good progress, but the injury left him behind in his throwing program. Simon made 16 starts for Baltimore in 2011 and welcomes the chance to move into a starters role, even if its only temporary. "Im ready to go," Simon said. "I know it has been two years (since) I have started a game, but if I get the opportunity, Im going to show Bryan Price that I can be a starter." The 32-year-old had started a total of three games in the majors when the Orioles moved him into the rotation in 2011. He went 4-9 with a 4.90 ERA in 16 starts and seven relief appearances that season. The Reds claimed him off waivers from the Orioles on April 3, 2012. He has been a valuable right-handed reliever for Cincinnati, going 3-2 with a 2.66 ERA in 36 relief appearances in 2012 and 6-4 with a 2.87 ERA in a career-high 63 appearances last season. Price planned to use him out of the bullpen again until Latos got hurt. Left-hander Tony Cingrani was the main option as an extra starter last season, but has the fifth spot in the rotation this year. "We do know we are short one starter right now without Mat," Price said. "If we were to have any setbacks where Mat was not ready to start the season, we have to look at the group we have and that would include Simon. "He has the starters background. He has a very, very durable arm. We have to look at him in longer stretches." If Latos is ready to pitch at the start of the season, Simon can move back into the bullpen. "I like starting," Simon said. "I am here to do whatever they want. All of my career (in the minors) I was a starter. Sometimes I would throw one or two innings. I can do more than that. I wanted to keep pitching. I miss it." Dante Exum Jersey . Mueller is the grandson of the late Ron Lancaster, the Hall-of-Fame quarterback and longtime head coach in the CFL. Last season, Mueller was quarterbacks coach of the University of Regina Rams, his alma mater. Jeff Hornacek Jersey .1 Sam Stosur will meet Germanys second-ranked player Andrea Petkovic in the opening match of the Fed Cup World Group semifinal. http://www.jazzauthentic.com/kids-john-stockton-jazz-jersey/ .C. -- Duke sophomore Rodney Hood is entering the NBA draft.Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - The Chicago Bulls sure looked like they were on the same page in Thursdays 104-81 demolition of the reigning champion San Antonio Spurs. Derrick Rose expressed frustration following Mondays loss to the Cavaliers -- Chicagos sixth over an eight-game span -- and hinted at underlying issues going forward for the Central Division leaders. The immediate response showed otherwise. Rose poured in 22 points and handed out five assists, All-Star starter Pau Gasol totaled 12 points and 17 rebounds, and Jimmy Butler scored 17 points in the rout. Final Score: Utah 101, Milwaukee 99 Milwaukee, WI (SportsNetwork.com) - Gordon Hayward scored 13 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter to lift the Utah Jazz over the Milwaukee Bucks, 101-99, on Thursday. Enes Kanter added 23 points, 16 rebounds and two steals for the Jazz, who held on after blowing a 16-point lead. Dante Exum and Rudy Gobert tallied 15 and 14 points, respectively, with Gobert also pulling down 10 rebounds. Brandon Knight and Jared Dudley each scored 16 points for the Bucks, who have lost two straight. Zaza Pachulia contributed 10 points and 10 boards. Final Score: Boston 90, Portland 89 Portland, OR (SSportsNetwork. Pete Maravich Jazz Jersey. com) - Evan Turner nailed a go-ahead 3-pointer with a second remaining and the Boston Celtics defeated the LaMarcus Aldridge-less Portland Trail Blazers 90-89 on Thursday night. Jared Sullinger missed a potential go-ahead triple before tracking down the rebound following a scramble and calling a timeout with 8.5 seconds to play. Sullinger then got the ball at the right elbow, but Wesley Matthews poked it away. Sullinger retrieved the ball in the paint and from a sitting position, found a wide open Turner in the right corner and he knocked down the trey to put the Celtics in front. Portland was unable to get off another shot at the other end. Final Score: LA Clippers 123, Brooklyn 84 Los Angeles, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Blake Griffin had 24 points with six rebounds to lead the Los Angeles Clippers in a 123-84 beating of the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night. DeAndre Jordan finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Chris Paul deposited a season-high 17 assists in the Clippers third straight win. Mason Plumlee led the Nets with 16 points and Darius Morris added 11 points off the bench for Brooklyn, which has dropped nine of its last 11 games. ' ' '