Joey Votto is expected to be sidelined for 3-4 weeks after having surgery Tuesday to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. The initial projection of two weeks seemed overly optimistic, and now we have a more realistic timetable. Votto originally hurt the knee on June 29 and missed a couple games. He's tried to play through it since then but has had uneven results. Todd Frazier should be the regular first baseman in his absence as long as Scott Rolen can stay healthy and hold down third base.

Joey Votto returned to action on Tuesday July 3.

Joey Votto (knee) is back in the Reds' starting lineup Tuesday night against the Dodgers. Votto missed two games after making an early exit Saturday in San Francisco with inflammation in his left knee. He remains questionable for next week's All-Star Game but will play through the discomfort for now.

Reds general manager Walt Jocketty acknowleged Monday that Joey Votto (knee) could miss the All-Star Game. "Yes," said Jocketty. "The All-Star Game is important. But our season is more important." Votto missed his second straight game Monday due to left knee inflammation, but the Reds are confident he'll avoid a trip to the disabled list. MLB has tried to make it tougher for players to skip the All-Star Game this year, requiring that a player must either have missed the final two games of the first half or have a team doctor certify that the player is dealing with a "chronic injury or condition." Losing Votto would be a tough blow for the National League, who may be forced to start Bryan LaHair at first base.

Reds manager Dusty Baker said Joey Votto (knee) is feeling better and it's "way too early" to talk about a possible disabled list stint. Baker was unsure if Votto would be available to pinch-hit Monday. While this doesn't sound like something that will lead to a trip to the DL, it does sound like he could conceivably miss a few more games.

Joey Votto (knee inflammation) was out of the lineup Sunday against the Giants. Joey Votto left Saturday's game against the Giants in the fifth inning with the injury. "It's progressing. I will have to talk to Paul [Lessard, the head athletic trainer] and Dusty about it," Votto said. "It's usually their decision and it's my knee's decision, not really mine." At the moment, it doesn't sound like anything that will require a trip to the disabled list for the 28-year-old. Miguel Cairo filled in for Votto and batted seventh.

Joey Votto has been diagnosed with knee inflammation. Reds fans (along with Votto's fantasy owners) can breathe a collective sigh of relief. At the moment, it doesn't sound like anything that will require a trip to the disabled list, but be sure to monitor the situation closely when setting lineups for next week. Votto seems likely to sit out Sunday.

Joey Votto belted a two-run homer in Sunday's loss to the Twins. Votto struck out in his first two at-bats but got to Scott Diamond in the eighth with the go-ahead longball. It was his 14th of the season, and his average actually dropped to .359 with the 1-for-3 effort.

Joey Votto hit his 11th home run of the season Tuesday, lifting the Reds to a 7-1 defeat of the Indians. Votto finished the night 2-for-4 with a walk and drove home three runs. His two-run shot off Tony Sipp in the seventh inning gave the Reds a bit of a cushion, increasing their lead to 4-1. Votto later added an RBI single in the eighth to cap off the scoring. The first baseman is off to a terrific start this year and is certainly in the discussion for early MVP candidacy, hitting .357 with 11 homers and 41 RBI.

Joey Votto continued his recent hot steak on Friday night, going 3-for-5 with a three-run homer in the Reds' 6-5 victory over the Tigers. His three-run blast off Rick Porcello in the third inning put the Reds on top 4-0. Votto has now hit safely in 14 consecutive games, batting .549 (28-for-51) with three homers and 10 RBI over that span. He's the hottest hitter in the league right now, and raised his season average to an even .360 with Friday's big three-hit night.