By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

HOUSTON - Austin Kearns sounds like a guy who could use a stint on the disabled list.

His right shoulder, injured May 21, is not getting better at a very steady rate.

"It's not a situation where it's getting better every day," he said. "It got a little better when I got the cortisone shot (last week)."

Kearns knows the only sure cure.

"The only way it's going to get fully better is by resting it for a long time," he said.

That would mean a stint on the disabled list.

"It ain't no fun sitting out and watching," he said. "I want to play. But it's something to consider."

Kearns' numbers have dropped drastically since the injury, suffered in a collision at the plate with Atlanta pitcher Ray King. Kearns hit .309 with 13 home runs and 33 RBI in the 45 games before the injury but had hit .208 with two home runs and 14 RBI in 37 games since.

Manager Bob Boone said Kearns won't start through the weekend but could be used off the bench.

CASEY OUT: Sean Casey was out of the lineup Wednesday after straining his right groin Tuesday.

"It's a lot better than it was last night," Casey said. "I think I may be able to play (today)."

The Reds will be cautious.

"Those scare me," Reds manager Bob Boone said of the injury. "It's not in a good healing spot."

MERCKER READY: Kent Mercker will be activated from the DL today; Gabe White won't be.

Mercker (back) threw a simulated game with no problems Tuesday. White (groin) pitched an inning in a Triple-A game at Louisville and had some problems.

"He felt it," Boone said. "He's further behind than we thought."

White will throw another bullpen assignment and have a second outing at Louisville.

"Chances of him coming back before the (All-Star) break aren't good," Boone said.

INJURY NO. 5: Catcher Jason LaRue missed his fifth straight start because of a deep bruise in his left shoulder.

"It's getting better," he said. "It's hard to really say (when I'll be ready). I keep thinking I'm going to wake up and it will feel halfway normal. That hasn't happened yet."

The injury bothers LaRue more while batting than catching.

"Catching, I only feel it on certain movements," he said. "Hitting, I feel it on every swing."

With LaRue out, Kelly Stinnett has started eight of the Reds' last nine games. Stinnett is hitting .310 (9-for-29) with a homer and three RBI over his last eight games.

But Boone said once LaRue is healthy, he'll get the bulk of the playing time.

"Kelly's hit the best since I've been here and he's thrown better," Boone said. "But I still see Jason as the starter and Kelly as the backup."

SHAKEUP: The Reds ran out an unusual lineup Wednesday night: D'Angelo Jimenez led off, followed by Adam Dunn, Jose Guillen, Ken Griffey Jr., Aaron Boone, Barry Larkin, Russell Branyan, Stinnett and Danny Graves.

It was the second straight start for Jimenez. He went 1-for-3 with a walk Tuesday and was 2-for-4 Wednesday.