Notebook : Griffey remains out of lineup

Ken Griffey Jr. remained out of the Cincinnati Reds’ lineup for a second day Friday with pleurisy, an inflammation in the lining of a cavity surrounding the lungs.

Griffey was held out of Thursday’s game in St. Louis with soreness in his chest. A chest X-ray revealed the problem, which is not expected to be a long-lasting condition. He is listed as day to day.

Griffey recently missed four games with a different type of inflammation, a colon condition called diverticulitis that was initially diagnosed six months ago. He returned from that problem Tuesday to hit his first home run of the season and the 564th of his career, moving him past Reggie Jackson for 10th place on the career list.

After missing most of spring training because of a broken hand, Griffey has a .254 average with nine RBIs throughout 18 games this season.

Fehr won’t see Bonds

Union head Donald Fehr doesn’t plan to be at the ballpark if and when Barry Bonds sets the career home run record.

“I won’t follow him around, but I generally don’t go to games during the season, so that’s nothing new for me,” Fehr said during a meeting with the Associated Press Sports Editors.

Lester looking strong

Red Sox left-hander and cancer survivor Jon Lester pitched five shutout innings for Triple-A Pawtucket in Pawtucket, R.I., in what is expected to be his second-to-last rehab outing before he returns to the Boston rotation.

Clearing the bases

Mike Mussina, sidelined with a strained left hamstring since April 11, is set to rejoin the New York Yankees’ rotation Thursday in against the Rangers in Texas. … Reliever Todd Coffey and the Cincinnati Reds agreed to a $925,000, one-year contract extension through the 2008 season. … The San Diego Padres activated catcher Josh Bard from the 15-day disabled list. To make room on the roster, infielder Russell Branyan was placed on the bereavement list following the death of his father-in-law. … The Cardinals demoted fill-in starter Randy Keisler to Triple-A.