"If the Reds are to get back in the National League Central race, they'll to do it without Scott Rolen.

The third baseman had surgery on his left shoulder Wednesday in Cincinnati. The arthroscopic procedure was to remove bone spurs and fragments. Rolen, on the disabled list since July 22, is expected to miss four to six more weeks. That takes the season into at least the first week of September.

"He played a huge role on this team," Reds manager Dusty Baker. "We've got to carry on. We've got games in the mean time."

But getting Rolen healthy was critical.

He is under contract for next year as well. The shoulder – this was his fourth surgery on it – has bothered him pretty much all year. It put him on the DL from April 24 to May 13. It particularly bothers him when he's hitting. He was hitting .242 with five home runs and 36 RBI when he went on the DL."