First baseman Sean Casey remained bothered by a low back strain and didn't play Tuesday.

        It was Casey's sixth missed start — his third due to injury — and his fourth missed game. He sat out games May 1-2 against Los Angeles with a bruised left foot.

        “I'll get some treatment before the game; I'll get treatment after the game,” Casey said after batting practice, which he was unable to participate in. “Hopefully I'll be ready to go (today). I'm definitely feeling something in there, though.”

        Casey said he has never experienced back trouble before, which encouraged him.

        “It's not too major,” said Casey, who began feeling discomfort Monday as he ran the bases in the sixth inning. “I'm positive it's not serious.”

        With Casey sidelined, Dmitri Young started his fifth game at first base.

        REYES AILING: Left-hander Dennys Reyes appeared destined for a stint on the disabled list, or at least for a few days without touching a ball, after he was removed in the eighth inning with stiffness in his forearm.

        Reyes plainly wasn't right. He walked three of the six batters he faced, lasting two-thirds of an inning and allowing a run.

        It was not immediately known whether Reyes' latest injury was related to the mild tendinitis in his elbow, which prompted him to visit a therapist at his home in Mexico last week.

        Before the game, Gullett stressed that Reyes, who has made only two appearances since May 13, must be able to pitch on back-to-back days to be a truly productive reliever.

        “That's the life of a bullpen guy,” Gullett said. “You have to be able to bounce back two days, sometimes three days in a row.”

        Reyes, who said he felt “a little bit sore” while pitching Friday, has been receiving daily ice and heat treatments to combat inflammation. He reported feeling better and was expected to throw before Tuesday's game to gauge his availability to pitch.

        UP NEXT: The series and the homestand conclude today as Reds rookie Chris Reitsma (2-4) opposes right-hander Jon Lieber (4-3). All Lieber did last Thursday at Chicago's Wrigley Field was pitch a one-hit shutout, ending the Reds' consecutive-games scoring streak of 208.

Cubs 10, Reds 5 Bowden says Griffey was misdiagnosed Casey, Reyes hurting Oester glad to see Perez back on field Cubs keep winning without Sosa homers Reds box, runs

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