Reds manager Dusty Baker likes to pick his spots for giving off-days to his regular players, and Tuesday seemed like the opportune time to give center fielder Willy Taveras a break.

"I think he needs it," Baker said. "Left-handers hit [Astros Tuesday starter Roy] Oswalt better than right-handers. We have a very tough stretch of games where Willy won't get any off-days."

Since his 14-game hitting streak ended on May 15 at San Diego, Taveras is in a 6-for-44 (.136) rut, though he has hit safely and scored a run in five of his past six games. During the hitting streak, he was batting .348 (23-for-66).

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