Stubbs trying heal oblique without DL stint

Stubbs trying heal oblique without DL stint

Published Jun. 7, 2012 11:01 a.m. ET

The Reds are trying to avoid putting Drew Stubbs on the disabled list.

Stubbs suffered a slightly strained oblique swinging at a pitch in Tuesday night's game. He'll miss at least a couple of games.

"Hopefully it will subside," manager Dusty Baker said. "We'll find out in a couple of days."

Stubbs thinks he'll be all right.

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"I think so," he said. "But I've never dealt with an oblique before. It's a very mild case."

Stubbs stayed in the game Tuesday after he hurt himself but felt the injury again while fielding a ball. Stubbs got treatment and was examined by Dr. Tim Kremchek on Wednesday.

"I'll rest it for a day or two," Stubbs said. "If it feels better, I may begin doing a little running."

Obliques can be major issues.

"If you end up tearing that thing, you'll be out a long time," Baker said. "We can't afford to lose Drew. He gives us defense and speed. The way he's come on lately, he's been swinging the bat a lot better. He usually gets hot when the weather gets hot."

NOTES, QUOTES

--INF/OF Kris Negron, 26, was called up from Triple-A Louisville to take INF Mike Costanzo's roster spot. He was hitting .212/.291/.336 at Louisville and was 0 for his last 21. The Reds don't have a lot of choices at Triple-A right now. "There's a lot of guys hurt down there," manager Dusty Baker said. "I talked to (Louisville manager) David Bell. He said (Negron) was the guy who could play center field the best. He can play a lot of different positions. We'd like a big bat, but they're hard to come by right now, so you go with versatility and speed."

--RHP Johnny Cueto went 7 2/3 innings and allowed three runs on six hits. He walked one and struck out six. Cueto left with the score 5-1 after throwing 118 pitches. "He's solid every outing," Ryan Ludwick said. "Every time he takes the mound, you feel like you have a good shot to win. There have been other guys on other teams I've played behind that you feel like that. That's his job. He's the ace of this staff. Not to put extra pressure on him, but that's what he's supposed to do."

--INF Mike Costanzo was optioned back to Triple-A Louisville. Costanzo was 1-for-17 overall and 0-for-13 as a pinch-hitter.

--3B Scott Rolen took batting practice on the field for the first time since going on the disabled list May 12 with a sore left shoulder. "That's progression," he said. "I felt good. I felt comfortable."

--1B Joey Votto went 1-for-4, extending his hitting streak to 12 games. That's a season high for a Red.

BY THE NUMBERS: 52 -- Strikeouts by LHP Aroldis Chapman in only 29 innings.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "The shoulder's good. If I want more time, I'm going to have to fake a bad hammy." -- 3B Scott Rolen.

MEDICAL WATCH:

--CF Drew Stubbs (strained oblique) was injured swinging at a pitch June 5 and is expected to be out for a few days.

--RHP Nick Masset (right shoulder inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26. He threw on flat ground May 24 for the first time and now is throwing 120 feet. There is no timetable for his return.

--LHP Bill Bray (strained left groin) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 19. He began a rehab assignment with Class AAA Louisville on April 29, but he moved back to extended spring training in Goodyear, Ariz., after one outing. He resumed throwing May 28, and he threw a bullpen session June 1. He might be able to start a rehab assignment in early June.

--3B Scott Rolen (strained left shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list May 12. On June 6, he took batting practice on the field for the first time since he was injured.

--RHP Ryan Madson (Tommy John surgery in April 2012) went on the 60-day disabled list April 4. He is out for the season.

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