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CINCINNATI — Eric Milton, the Cincinnati Reds left-handed starting pitcher who hasn't won in his last 12 starts, is on the disabled list.

The official diagnosis: strained left elbow.

For the short run, the Reds have summoned Rule 5 right-handed relief pitcher Jared Burton from a rehabilitation assignment, "And we'll go with eight relief pitchers for now," said general manager Wayne Krivsky.

The Reds don't need a starter until Sunday in Los Angeles, and Krivsky said it could be from within (Kirk Saarloos would be the logical choice) or it could come from Class AAA Louisville.

Krivsky pretty much eliminated consideration of Homer Bailey by saying, "He is making good progress with his curve ball and changeup, but he just turned 21 and is where he needs to be."

Krivsky also mentioned that consideration would be made to whose turn it is to pitch. Left-hander Bobby Livingston (0-3, 3.22) pitched Tuesday and his turn falls Sunday. The other choice is left-hander Phil Dumatrait (4-1 2.34), who is scheduled to pitch today and could be held back.

"We'll fly in whoever we need for the Sunday start and pitch him on Milton's day," said Krivsky. "I haven't talked to the staff so I don't have any idea who it might be."

As for Milton, he complained of elbow pain after Tuesday's start and was given an MRI, which revealed inflammation, "And we're calling it a sprained elbow, nothing serious, but he needs to shut it down seven to 10 days," said Krivsky.

Defending the 'pen

Eddie Guardado doesn't resemble a defense attorney, but the members of the Reds bullpen owe him a fee after the plea Guardado made on their behalf.

"Our bullpen has a variety, young guys and two guys with knowledge who have been there and know how to pitch (Mike Stanton, David Weathers)," said Guardado. "What they are going through is something you go through that nobody wants to see, not anybody. But you go through it and you have to stop it, put it to a close. When this happens, everybody in the bullpen says, 'I can't mess this up,' and there is more pressure.

"It's a learning process, and it is part of the game," he added. "I have never seen anything like this, I'll tell you that, in all my years. Even in my younger days with the Twins when we were getting beat around. I mean, balls get hit right down the line and then home runs. It's mind-boggling, but our job is to forget about it and go out each day with a fresh mind."

Regardless of the words, the Reds bullpen earned run average of 4.72 is the worst in the National League.

About himself?

Guardado, eligible to come off the disabled list May 31, threw breaking pitches for the first time off a mound in the bullpen Wednesday, 25 pitches to a catcher standing in front of the plate, "To keep me from trying to throw too hard," he said.

"No pain, felt really normal," he said about his comeback from Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery last September. "Nice and easy, all my breaking pitches. Like I was young again. Another positive day."

Guardado will pitch batting practice Friday in Los Angeles, his second session of all fastballs and he'll try for 20 to 25 pitches, "Because if I have to throw more than 25 in a game it is not a good inning and you're out there scratching your head."

Three for me

On May 3, manager Jerry Narron returned Ken Griffey Jr. to No. 3 in the batting order, a spot he occupied throughout most of his career.

And it has worked.

Since then, heading into Wednesday's game, Griffey put together a six-game hitting streak and was batting .458 (11-24) with three of his five homers and five RBIs.

Quote of the day

Remember the strike of 1994, when baseball season ended on Aug. 11, wiping out the playoffs and World Series? Had it not been for that strike, Ken Griffey Jr. might have been the one to pass Roger Maris instead of Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. On Aug. 11, Griffey had 40 home runs.

"I picked a bad year to have a good year," said Griffey.