MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Brewers reverted to spring training mode Wednesday night, rekindling the decision-making process about which pitcher will lose his spot in the five-man starting rotation now that Yovani Gallardo is ready to take his spot in the quintet, perhaps as early as next week.

Gallardo, who missed most of spring training after undergoing knee surgery, will join the Brewers in New York Friday and remain on the disabled list in a move to protect the pitching staff because the forecast calls for rain all weekend.

The decision announced after the Brewers' 12-4 loss to Cincinnati Wednesday night at Miller Park came in the wake of Gallardo's second rehab start in the afternoon in Oklahoma City that was juxtaposed against Dave Bush's second start at night.

Gallardo threw 92 pitches and allowed seven hits and two runs in an outing that lasted 5.1 innings before rain stopped the game. Gallardo, who was 9-5 as a rookie last season, struck out seven.

Bush, generally regarded as the leading candidate to lose his spot in the rotation once Gallardo returns, was better than he was last week in Chicago but allowed six hits and five runs in 5.1 innings. It was the Brewers' second loss of the season in eight games, and both of them have been charged to Bush.

"Actually, I thought he pitched pretty good," Yost said of Bush. "He kept us in the game for the first five innings."

Bush was encouraged, too.

"I was pretty pleased but I would have liked a little better result," he said.

After the game, the Brewers placed center fielder Tony Gwynn (hamstring) on the disabled list retroactive to April 4 and recalled infielder-outfielder Hernan Iribarren to replace Gwynn on the roster.

"He's about 80 percent," said Yost, who has been playing a player short since Gwynn was injured last Thursday in Chicago. "We decided to take eight more days to get it right."

Wednesday's debacle started in the sixth inning when Bush gave up three runs to lose a 3-2 lead. It was all downhill from there as a trio of relievers -- David Riske, Derrick Turnbow and Seth McClung -- combined to give up seven runs on eight hits over the final 3.2 innings.

McClung, another candidate to get hooked with the return of Gallardo, was especially bad, allowing five hits and five runs over the final two innings that required him to throw 65 pitches.

McClung's performance may have preserved a spot for Bush in the bullpen once Gallardo is reinstated. McClung would need to clear waivers to take an assignment to Nashville.

Gallardo's presence will protect the rotation for early next week if Yost is forced to juggle his starters because of the expected inclement weather in New York.