Harang scratched from start with forearm stiffness

Jul 5, 2008 - 4:29 PM CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Cincinnati Reds pitcher Aaron Harang has been bothered by forearm stiffness and will miss his scheduled start Saturday against the Washington Nationals.

Harang, who will pitch Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs, will be replaced Saturday by fellow righthander Josh Fogg, who was activated from the 15-day disabled list.

The Reds' Opening Day starter, Harang has been brutal of late, going 1-4 with a 6.75 ERA in his last seven starts.

Reds manager Dusty Baker hopes that the extra rest will help Harang fully recover from the forearm stiffness, an injury he also struggled with two years ago.

"(Harang) had this a couple of years ago," Baker said. "They skipped him a start, and he was fine from there."

A 16-game winner each of the last two seasons, the 30-year-old Harang is just 3-10 with a 4.47 ERA in 19 games this year.

Fogg, 31, had been sidelined by back spasms since May 31. The eight-year veteran has appeared in 11 games - four starts - for the Reds this season, going 1-2 with a 9.85 ERA.

To make room for Fogg on the roster, the Reds placed outfielder Norris Hopper on the 15-day DL.

Hopper, 29, has been diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and will undergo season-ending "Tommy John" surgery on Tuesday.

In 26 games this season, Hopper batted .200 (10-for-50) with one RBI. The North Carolina native showed potential as a reserve with the Reds last season, when he batted .329 with 14 stolen bases in 121 games.