By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

CHICAGO - Ruben Mateo started in right field again Thursday for the Reds in their 16-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs.

"I'm trying to get some consistent playing time for Ruben," manager Bob Boone said.

Mateo has played well, although the way the Reds have been losing, it has been hard to tell.

Mateo was 2-for-5 Wednesday and 1-for-3 Thursday.

Outfielder Reggie Taylor had been playing the majority of the time since Ken Griffey Jr. dislocated his shoulder. But Taylor has one hit in his last 18 at-bats.

Mateo, obtained from Texas for Rob Bell in June 2001, was used as a starter early last year after Griffey was injured.

"He played really well for us," Boone said. "But then we brought (Austin) Kearns up. Kearns just took off."

So Mateo got sent back to Triple-A Louisville. Mateo hit .301 with nine home runs and 23 RBI in 52 games at Louisville, and .256 with two home runs and seven RBI in 46 games with the Reds.

"Hopefully it's a matter of getting him some at-bats to get him going," Boone said. "It's tough to hit when you don't play on a regular basis."

Sean Casey missed Thursday's game, so Adam Dunn played first base and Jose Guillen started in left field.

"Guillen has given us some good at-bats," Boone said. "I'm going to mix and match those guys."

Which means Dunn and Kearns will start every day and Guillen, Mateo and Taylor will share the other spot.

CASEY UPDATE: Casey is scheduled to rejoin the team today in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Casey returned to Cincinnati Wednesday to be with his wife, Mandi, for the birth of their second child. Mandi was scheduled to have labor induced Thursday.

Boone wasn't ready to write Casey's name in today's lineup.

"I hope the baby knows our time schedule," he said.

SPORTSCENTER WORTHY: Shortstop Felipe Lopez made a spectacular play in Thursday's game. Lopez dived into the hole to stop a hard grounder off the bat of Mark Bellhorn.

Lopez then made a strong throw from the prone position to get Bellhorn by a step.

But Lopez also committed his fifth error of the year earlier in the game.

WHO'S COMING UP: The Reds probably will wait until they return home to fill Jimmy Haynes' roster spot. Haynes was placed on the 15-day disabled list after Thursday's game.

He wasn't scheduled to pitch again until Wednesday.

"We'll have someone up by then for sure," Boone said.

The Reds have three right-handed starters at Louisville from whom to choose.

Chris Reitsma was 1-1 with a 2.57 ERA going into Thursday's start. Seth Etherton is 2-1 with a 3.31 ERA. And Jeff Austin is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA.

"It will be someone who's pitching good at Louisville," Boone said.