By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MILWAUKEE - Jimmy Haynes will be the starting pitcher for someone Wednesday. Whether it is the Reds or the Louisville Bats remains to be seen.

Haynes, the Reds' Opening Day starter who is on the disabled list with a bulging disc, made a rehab start for Single-A Dayton and was very impressive.

Haynes went seven innings and allowed an unearned run on two hits in Dayton's 4-1 win over Cedar Rapids. He walked two and struck out six.

"His mechanics were good," Reds manager Bob Boone said. "He reached out on his pitches. He kept the ball down."

Haynes did have some general soreness in his back afterward.

"That's normal," Boone said. "He hasn't pitched that much."

Haynes will throw a bullpen session in Cincinnati today. That keeps him on schedule to start Wednesday.

John Riedling is slated to start Wednesday against the Atlanta Braves at Great American. But Haynes could go instead.

"I want to talk to him first," Boone said. "I want to see how he feels."

Riedling, a converted reliever, has made three starts. He's 0-2 with a 5.79 ERA. But his last one - he went six innings, allowing three runs against the St. Louis Cardinals Thursday - was the best.

NO JUNIOR: Ken Griffey Jr. was not in the starting lineup Saturday. Beginning today, that will become a rare thing.

"I think with the off day Monday," Boone said, "he'll be ready to go (out and play every day)."

Griffey returned Tuesday after missing 5 1/2 weeks with a dislocated shoulder.

Griffey pinch-hit in the sixth Saturday and struck out.

LARKIN IN: Barry Larkin returned to the starting lineup four days after re-injuring his left calf.

Larkin probably won't be in today's lineup.

"We're going to ... play it by ear," Boone said.

Larkin missed 22 games with the original injury. Boone probably will play it cautious with Larkin for the rest of the year.

"He plays better when he gets a couple of days off a week," Boone said.

SEPARATION POWER: Adam Dunn's fourth-inning home run Saturday gave him a two-dinger lead over Richie Sexson in the major-league home run race.

"It doesn't mean much," Dunn said. "It's May. There are a lot of good home run hitters around."

Dunn has 16 homers. Last year, he didn't hit his 16th until July 2.

No one, however, is on a pace like Dunn's. He has hit six home runs in the past six games and is on pace to hit 60 for the season.

Dunn also has cut way back on his strikeouts. He has struck out only seven times in the past 13 games. In 30 games, Dunn was striking out, on average, 1.5 times a game.

"I think his numbers are going to be there at the end," Boone said. "Last year, when he was struggling, I wasn't sure. But he's been pretty good as far as a swing standpoint all year. Last year, he had a bunch of things to correct."