In Taveras' place on opening day, Jerry Hairston Jr. batted leadoff and played left field. Last year the Reds were 24-16 when Hairston batted leadoff.

But the right-handed hitter was 0-for-4 with a strikeout Monday in a 2-1 loss to the Mets, and he probably won't play Wednesday with New York right-hander Mike Pelfrey on the mound.

Taveras, who stole 63 bases last year, will bat leadoff and play center field while rookie Chris Dickerson, a left-hander, figures to play left field and bat second.