Dusty Baker plans to resume his managerial duties Monday in St. Louis. Baker has been away from the Reds for over a week due to an irregular heartbeat and a mild stroke. He was back at the ballpark Thursday, but he'll take a few more days before officially taking the reins again. "I feel better than before," Baker said.

Dusty Baker has been released from the hospital and will fly home to Cincinnati Sunday, but he will not manage the Reds for their night game. Baker has been away from the team since Wednesday due to an irregular heartbeat, but it sounds like he should be ready to start managing again Tuesday against the Brewers. Chris Speier will fill in again Sunday.

Dusty Baker is not expected to manage the Reds Friday. FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported earlier Friday that Baker, who has been away from the club the last couple days while getting checked for pneumonia, was expected back in the dugout, but he's now reversing course. All indications are that Baker is doing better and should return sometime over the weekend.

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports that Reds manager Dusty Baker is expected back with the team Friday. Good to hear. Baker was away from the club the last couple days while getting checked for pneumonia. His team clinched a playoff berth Thursday and could clinch the division as soon as Friday.

Reds manager Dusty Baker left the team Wednesday to get a chest X-ray in order to rule out pneumonia. Chris Speier is expected to manage the team Wednesday. Hopefully the test clears Baker and he's back in the dugout Thursday, but his status is up in the air at this point.

Joey Votto has just two extra-base hits in 39 plate appearances since returning to the lineup. Both extra-base hits were doubles, with the second one coming in Saturday's game. Votto is batting .276/.462/.345 overall in the nine games. The first baseman admits that he's still searching for his power stroke. "Driving the ball through the middle of the field, through the gaps, out of the ballpark," he said. "That will come at some point. Some players just have the natural stroke that you throw them in the lineup, and all of the sudden they turn on a ball and hit it out of the ballpark. I feel like I've got a process swing. It takes a long time to get to where it needs to be and to stay there."

Joey Votto went 2-for-3 with a walk in his return to Cincinnati's lineup on Wednesday. Votto raised his average to .346 in his first game since July 15, leaving him just behind Andrew McCutchen (.347) in the NL. Unfortunately, it looks like he's going to wind up about a week of games shy of qualifying for the batting title. He's at 374 plate appearances with 24 Reds games left. Even if he plays in all of them -- and that seems highly unlikely -- he'd likely finish with around 480 plate appearances, short of the 502 the batting title is based on.

Joey Votto is in the Reds' starting lineup Wednesday against the Phillies. Finally. Votto ended up missing nearly two months following two procedures on his left knee. He's not 100 percent and likely won't be until the offseason, but Votto at 80 or 90 percent is still better than most on their best day. Todd Frazier is starting at third base in place of Scott Rolen for the matinee, but he figures to lose some playing time.

Joey Votto (knee) said Tuesday that he likely won't be 100 percent until the offseason. Votto has undergone two procedures on his left knee over the past two months, so this news doesn't come as a big surprise. The 28-year-old was activated from the disabled list Tuesday, but he's not in the starting lineup against the Phillies. The Reds will likely give him regular rest down the stretch as they look ahead to the postseason.

Reds activated 1B Joey Votto from the 15-day disabled list. Votto is active after missing nearly two months following multiple procedures on his left knee, but he's not in the starting lineup Tuesday night against the Phillies. Given the Reds' 8 1/2 game lead in the National League Central, they can afford to ease him back into action and give him rest whenever necessary.