By John Fay
Enquirer staff writer

ST. LOUIS - The Reds left for Milwaukee on Wednesday night after being swept in their three-game series with St. Louis.

Most years, four games against the Brewers would be viewed as a break. Not this year. The Brewers are in third place in the National League Central, seven games behind first-place St. Louis and one game ahead of the fourth-place Reds.

The Central is baseball's best division in terms of records. It certainly seems that way to the Reds.

"It's a tough division," Reds manager Dave Miley said. "You never have an easy series. Look at the Brewers, the (Pittsburgh) Pirates."

The Pirates are the only team in the division with a sub-.500 record (38-44) and they are two games removed from a 10-game winning streak.

The four games in Milwaukee are critical to the Reds, who are trying to tread water until the All-Star break. They figure to get first baseman Sean Casey back from a strained calf injury after the break.

"He should be good to go," Miley said. "That's what we're hoping for."

Taking Casey out of the lineup severely crimps the Reds' offense. He is hitting .352 with 15 home runs and 54 RBI.

"Obviously, it makes us better with him in the middle of the lineup," Miley said. "It's a nice bat to have in there."

D'Angelo Jimenez, who is hitting .255 with six home runs and 26 RBI, has been hitting in the third spot in Casey's absence.

LINE 'EM UP: Injuries have kept Miley juggling his lineup; Wednesday's was the 69th different one the Reds have used in 83 games. That's fourth-most in the NL.

The Reds' projected starting lineup - catcher Jason LaRue, first baseman Casey, second baseman Jimenez, shortstop Barry Larkin, third baseman Brandon Larson, left fielder Adam Dunn, center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. and right fielder Austin Kearns - have played together only nine times all year.

Those eight started April 26 in Pittsburgh. Kearns was hit by a pitch and had to leave the game and later was put on the disabled list with a broken left arm.

LARSON BACK: Larson was back in the lineup at third base for Wednesday night's game.

Larson came into the game hitless in his last 12 at-bats and 1-for-17. He hit his third home run of the season and finished 1-for-3.

"He had some good rounds of (batting practice)," Miley said. "His turf toe had been bothering him the last couple games."

Larson started the year on the disabled list because of the injury.

"It's something he's going to have to play through," Miley said.

FARM REPORT: Jung Keun Bong allowed five runs on five hits in 2 2/3 innings Tuesday for Triple-A Louisville. Bong is 1-2 with a 9.88 ERA since being optioned to the Bats.

Chris Booker, promoted from Double-A Chattanooga, allowed two runs on four hits in his Louisville debut. He struck out four.