Dunn could miss Detroit series

Adam Dunn could miss at least another five days because of a strained right oblique, possibly missing part or all of the four-game series against the Detroit Tigers.

Dunn was not in the lineup Saturday for a second game against the Kansas City Royals. Manager Robin Ventura said Dunn, who is tied for second in the majors with 38 home runs, could return sooner if he improves more quickly. “He still has a strain and it will be [at least] a couple days,” Ventura said. “It’s when he’s [feels he is] ready to go.”

Dunn missed two games last week after straining his right oblique, a nagging injury for hitters. He returned for three games but aggravated it Wednesday against Minnesota.

SAVE CIRCUMSTANCES

Closer Addison Reed leads major league rookies in saves with 25, allowing at least one run only four times. His ERA in save situations is 3.25.

But it is 6.23 (15 earned runs/ 21 2/3 innings) in non-save situations, including the tie game he entered in the ninth on Friday. Reed suffered the loss after giving up a two-run homer to Lorenzo Cain.

Reed said his approach is the same in both situations. “I feel great. Everything feels great. Things just weren’t working [Friday],” he said.

“He’s the closer so we’ll find out by the end of the year [his effectiveness],” Ventura said. “it’s one of those things where you don’t know exactly why, but guys give up runs. You just try to put it behind you.”

Ventura said he will try to keep from over-using Reed in the closing weeks of the playoff chase. “We still are making sure guys get their rest. We’ll use guys a little more but they still need rest, and you don’t want to wear guys out, especially since this is still early enough in September that you have to use them. The temptation is to use them every game, but we’ve held guys out last week knowing they have a few more games.”

IT’S A BOY

Kevin Youkilis and his wife welcomed a baby boy Friday. Youkilis could be back with the team by Sunday.