By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

CHICAGO - Given the way Brandon Larson is playing in Louisville and the lack of pop on the Reds bench, it would have been easy to assume Larson would be activated tonight when the Reds return home for a three-game series with the Atlanta Braves.

It won't happen, says Reds general manager Dan O'Brien.

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos from Monday's game

"Talking to our manager (Rick Burleson) there and some of our roving instructors, Brandon's not quite 100 percent," O'Brien said.

Larson, who is rehabbing a turf toe injury, is hitting .348 with two home runs and five RBI in seven games for the Bats.

"He's doing fine," O'Brien said. "He just has a little ways to go. Obviously, when he's 100 percent, he'll be up here."

Ryan Freel has started the last 11 games at third base while Larson rehabs. Freel has played well - .298, a homer, three RBI and three stolen bases - but the Reds are concerned about him getting worn down.

NEW LINEUP: Austin Kearns was back in right field Monday after three starts by Wily Mo Pena.

But Kearns was not batting in the cleanup spot, where he had hit in his previous eight starts.

Reds manager Dave Miley dropped him to the sixth spot.

The Reds' three left-handed hitters - Ken Griffey Jr., Sean Casey and Adam Dunn - were third, fourth and fifth in the order.

Miley's reasoning? Griffey, Casey and Dunn all hit lefties well, the Cubs have only one left-hander in the bullpen, Kent Mercker, and he pitched in the first three games of the series.

Just as Miley was discussing the lineup, Mercker, a former Red, walked by.

"Can't you break up those left-handers, so I don't have to pitch every day?" Mercker said. Miley laughed.

He considers more than left and right when he makes out his lineup.

Kearns has struggled all year. He went 0-for-3 Monday to drop his average to .171. Casey is hitting .364 and Dunn .395.

Taking Kearns out of the cleanup spot relieves pressure.

"This may get Kearnsie going," Miley said. "He's going to hit. We've said that from day one."

PAIR OF Es: The Reds committed two errors Monday, equaling their season total.

Before Monday, they had gone seven games without an error.

Last year, the Reds committed 141, most in the major leagues.

FARM REPORT: Matt Belisle, the right-hander the Reds got from Atlanta in the Mercker trade, pitched a complete game shutout in Louisville's 6-0 victory over Norfolk Monday. Belisle (1-2) allowed six hits, walked one and struck out six.

Thomas Pauly, the second-round pick in last year's draft, allowed only one hit in five shutout innings in Potomac's 9-1 win over Myrtle Beach Sunday.

Joey Votto, the second-round pick in 2002, went 3-for-5 with two homers, including a grand slam, and seven RBI in Dayton's 8-3 win over Clinton Sunday.

CHRISTENSEN RETIRES: Outfielder McKay Christensen informed the Reds he has retired. He was with Triple-A Louisville.

REDS FACT: The Reds-Cubs four-game series set the all-time Wrigley Field attendance record of 159,461.