BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJOR LEAGUES : Viola Starting in Smiley’s Spot Tonight

Frank Viola was purchased by the Cincinnati Reds from their Indianapolis farm club Friday and will start tonight against Pittsburgh.

The left-hander, who last pitched in the majors for the Boston Red Sox last season, will start in place of 11-game winner John Smiley, who went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Tuesday because of a strained right groin.

Viola, 35, was 175-146 with Minnesota, the Mets and Boston from 1982-94.

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Montreal pitcher Carlos Perez has been suspended for four games for charging and bumping umpire Bill Hohn during the Expos’ game Tuesday against the Dodgers. . . . The Atlanta Braves made two trades, acquiring outfielder Mike Devereaux from the Chicago White Sox for minor league outfielder Andre King and sending third baseman Jose Oliva to the St. Louis Cardinals for minor league outfielder Anton French. Devereaux, 32, batted .306 with 10 homers and 55 RBIs in 92 games with the White Sox. . . . The Toronto Blue Jays sent pitcher Juan Guzman to Triple-A Syracuse for a medical rehabilitation assignment.