By Kevin Kelly and John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Friday's game

In retrospect, the Reds and Ryan Dempster believe they should've done something sooner.

The pitcher was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday with an inflamed nerve in the right side of his neck. Rainer Olmedo took Dempster's place on the Reds' roster.

The injury has been bothering Dempster since spring training and is believed to be the primary reason for Dempster's struggles. He is 1-4 with a 7.62 ERA and led the National League with 44 earned runs and 43 walks entering Friday's games.

"I obviously wasn't as sharp as I should've been," said Dempster, who allowed nine runs but struck out 10 against the Braves on Thursday. "It's one thing if you're completely healthy and you're not as sharp as you should be. When you have things lingering, it's best to get them sorted out."

Dempster, who has had two cortisone shots and might receive a third, is scheduled to throw on the side today. If everything goes well, he probably will make a rehabilitation start for Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday.

"We saw improvement," manager Bob Boone said. "But the tell-tale sign, at least from my experience with a pitcher, when they can't put (the ball) where they want to, you start looking inside.

"We'd like to keep him right on schedule. I think that's what he needs. He's at that point."

MORE OLMEDO: Olmedo's promotion to the Reds is a temporary move and does not mean Felipe Lopez is no longer the shortstop of the future.

Olmedo probably will return to Double-A Chattanooga in four days when Jimmy Haynes is activated from the disabled list.

"This gives Bob (Boone) a little more flexibility," Reds general manager Jim Bowden said. "Rainer's a good defensive player. He was hitting .299 in Double-A. At 21 years old, he deserves a cup of coffee here."

Olmedo probably will get a start or two while he's here.

"It gives us a chance to see what he can do at this level," Boone said.

Lopez has struggled in the field. He has 14 errors. That puts him on pace for 50 for the year.

Olmedo has been compared to Omar Vizquel, Cleveland's Gold Glove shortstop. But Olmedo has a tendency to blow routine plays and make spectacular ones. He had 10 errors in 42 games at Chattanooga.

The line on Olmedo was that he'd be a big-leaguer if he'd ever hit enough.

He has hit this year. He was hitting .299 with a .353 on-base percentage at Chattanooga.

"I'm more patient at the plate," he said. "I talk to the hitting coach before every at-bat about what I'm doing. I try to be patient with every pitch."

STEPPING IN: Taking Dempster's place in the rotation will be Jimmy Haynes. The right-hander, on the disabled list since April 17 with a bulging disk in his back, threw 6 2/3 shutout innings for Louisville on Thursday. He is expected to be activated and start against the Braves on Tuesday.

"As long as we can keep (the back) the way it is now, I don't see any problem with me pitching," said Haynes, who hasn't started since he allowed 10 runs against the Cubs on April 17.

Haynes allowed three earned runs in 10 2/3 innings during his two rehab starts.

GAMETIME DECISION: Right fielder Austin Kearns returned to the starting lineup after missing Thursday's game with a sore right shoulder. Kearns extended his career-high hitting streak to 16 games Friday. He entered the game leading the National League with 44 RBI but had none against the Marlins.

GET THIS: The Marlins entered Friday with a major-league leading 70 stolen bases.

Four of their players - Juan Pierre, Luis Castillo, Juan Encarnacion and Derrek Lee - ranked in the top 10. The Reds have 30 steals.

SCRATCHED: Marlins starting pitcher Brad Penny (2-3, 4.20) was scratched because of the flu. He is scheduled to start today.