Reds letting Votto determine date of his return

The Cincinnati Reds' original plan was for Joey Votto to play games at Class A Dayton on rehab, take two days off, then be activated on Saturday.

Instead, Votto played a third game for Dayton on Friday. He went 0-for-2 with a sacrifice fly and a walk.

There's a chance Votto will rejoin the team this weekend in Houston, but not a great one.

"I wouldn't rule it out," Reds manager Dusty Baker said before Friday's 9-3 win over the Astros. "But I would probably prefer that he didn't. Simply because you want him really ready when he gets here in all departments. I just as soon he wait until we get home, play a couple more games, get his mind together so far as he's not hurt anymore. That's toughest thing to do once you've had an operation. Anyone who's had an operation knows that."

Votto might play Saturday for the Triple-A Louisville.

"We'll see," Baker said. "The good thing is that he's playing. How much he's going to play is up to him."

Votto had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee July 17. He had another procedure on the knee Aug. 10. The Reds are relying on Votto to let them know when he's ready.

"Joey knows his body as well as anybody," Baker said. "He knew something was wrong and went back to the doctor and they went back in there. We couldn't detect that. Joey's a very intelligent, astute young man who has a pretty good Idea what's going on."