Reds' Mesoraco expected back in a week or less

The Cincinnati Reds don't expect All-Star catcher Devin Mesoraco's sore left hip to force him to the disabled list. 

Mesoraco has missed the team's last two games and is currently not with the Reds on their 10-game road trip in order to do rehab work in Cincinnati. Reds manager Bryan Price expects to have him back in the lineup within a week, but the team will be forced to play a man down until his return. 

"We have to see how he comes through the treatment," Price told reporters. "I think he was a bit better (Tuesday). Certainly Dr. (Tim Kremchek) and (physical therapist) Christy (Sweeney) back in Cincinnati will have a lot more to say about it, but at least the initial report was it wasn't something that was going to necessitate a disabled-list deal.

"In my opinion, that's because you think it's going to be a week or less. If it's going to be week or longer, you have to consider the DL because that's a long time to play a man short."

Mesoraco broke out at the dish in 2014, hitting .273/.359/.534, while leading all catchers with 25 home runs. 

Brayan Pena has started in Mesoraco's place for the Reds' last two games.