"For the Reds' 34th game, Joey Votto was rested.

Votto was out of the lineup for the first time this season Monday night against the Houston Astros.

Ramon Hernandez started at first base.

Votto is in his first slump of the season. He went into Monday on a 3-for-21 skid. He was hitless Saturday and Sunday. It's the first time he's gone back-to-back games without a hit.

Votto had his on-base streak stopped Sunday at 33 games.

He has gone hitless for two straight games for the first time all year.

"Of all the days, I picked today," Reds manager Dusty Baker said.

The Reds face Brett Myers and Wandy Rodriguez the next two days.

"He hits Myers and Wandy pretty good," Baker sad.

After an off day Thursday, the Reds play series with St. Louis, the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Atlanta and Milwaukee before another off day.

"Twenty days in a row after this off day," Baker said. "It's a tough stretch, probably our toughest stretch of the year, as far as consecutive games and the quality of teams we're playing. It was a process of elimination.""