CINCINNATI -- One night after a lackluster spot start for the Reds, pitcher Homer Bailey was optioned to Triple-A Louisville.

Even if he had a good start, Bailey wasn't needed again before Edinson Volquez returns from the 15-day disabled list on June 1 because of an off-day Thursday. The Reds recalled utility player Wilkin Castillo from Louisville.

"It's not surprising," said Bailey, who has had five big league stints since 2007. "I had a feeling it was just for one start anyway."

"Homer is a smart kid," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "He can add and subtract, see what we need, and knew he wasn't available. He'll be back."

Unfortunately for Cincinnati, it wasn't a good one start for the 23-year-old Bailey, who was erratic and gave up six earned runs on only three hits over 4 1/3 innings during a 7-6 loss to the Indians on Saturday. The glaring number was his career-high six walks.

"I just didn't throw my game, basically," said Bailey, who was 3-5 with a 4.57 ERA in eight starts for Louisville. "The way I threw [Saturday] wasn't how I've been throwing. I was throwing, because of all the scouting reports, to their weaknesses instead of going to my strengths first. I think I threw more two-seam fastballs [Saturday] than I had all year."

Bailey also frequently shook off catcher Ramon Hernandez in the game as the two were clearly an out-of-sync battery.

"Ramon has never caught me before, ever," Bailey said. "That's hard for him to be put in that situation as well. For me, if you have a catcher you've worked with in the past, there's not really a whole lot of shaking [off]."

The promotion of Castillo, who was batting only .207 at Louisville, was out of necessity for depth. The Reds played Sunday without second baseman Brandon Phillips (broken thumb) and Joey Votto (dizziness) in the starting lineup.

Castillo can serve as the third catcher behind Hernandez and Ryan Hanigan and can also play second base, third base and even left field.

"Ramon is a little sore. Hanigan is getting over some soreness," Baker said. "I can use [Castillo] a lot of different ways. With our need for bodies, he gives you a lot of players in one."