Mat Latos chomping at the bit to get back

LOS ANGELES -- Right-hander Mat Latos made his first rehab start Sunday. He went four innings and 49 pitches. He allowed two runs on three hits. He walked one and struck out three.

"Everything I've gotten is positive," Price said. "Again, with Mat, the days following are important. The reports we get Monday and Tuesday will be telling."

Latos will make two more starts for Louisville. "Then we'll re-evaluate," Price said.

Latos is chomping at the bit.

"I like to eat," Latos told reporters in Louisville Sunday. "Imagine that you have a nice steak in front of you and you're not allowed to touch it. It sucks to be sitting in the dugout and watching your teammates play and watch them go through the struggles and grind. … I wish I was out there competing with them."

SLEEPLESS IN LA: The Reds arrived in Los Angeles about 6 a.m. Cincinnati time Monday after Sunday's 8 p.m. game.

"I still don't understand it," Price said. "How do you play at 8 and then play 5 o'clock the next day?"

The Reds sent starting pitcher Johnny Cueto out to LA early Sunday afternoon.

REPLAY CHALLENGING: Price lost a challenge in Sunday's game. He challenged the safe call on Kolten Wong's stolen base. The call stood. Price is still figuring out the replay challenge system.

"It's maddening," Price said. "... The problem is a unilateral decision made in another state and that you don't get to talk about and understand. I'm starting now to anticipate the call standing even when it seems to be very clear the call will be reversed."

Managers stall on controversial calls while their replay man evaluates the call.

"It's like anything else you're trying to introduce," Price said. "You've got to get through the hiccups."

LUTZ PLAN: Donald Lutz has not gotten a start since being called up from Triple-A Monday. Todd Frazier started at first base, and Ramon Santiago started at third. The Dodgers started left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu.

"There's a chance (Lutz) will start in this series," Price said. "You don't want to have guys who are swinging the bat well in the minor leagues like Lutz and come up here and sit. . . I'd rather have him start against right-handed pitching.