Karros Will Need a Few More Days Off

DENVER â€”  Eric Karros has been sidelined because of a strained back, but the Dodgers are optimistic the first baseman will return to the lineup soon.

Karros sat out Tuesday’s 11-8 loss to the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field and is not expected to play today in the final game of a nine-game, 10-day trip.

Although the muscle problem has slowed Karros since spring training, the Dodgers said the disabled list is not their first option.

Manager Jim Tracy said Karros, receiving treatment from team medical personnel, will undergo further tests Thursday and be reevaluated.

The club hopes Karros only needs a few days’ rest.

“We’re just in a situation right now where it’s a day-to-day thing,� Tracy said. “We’re going to treat him vigorously here the next couple of days. We’ve got a day off [Thursday], then we can assess the situation come Friday.�

Karros could not bat in a key situation in Monday’s 6-3 loss to the Rockies. After informing Tracy of his pain, Karros was removed for a pinch-hitter.

“He does have some muscle stiffness that’s limiting him,� physical therapist Pat Screnar said. “The big limitation is swinging the bat right now, and it’s at a point where time off would be advantageous for him.

“It’s not the issue that it was this spring when he was out a number of weeks. It’s not that bad. How many days? That I don’t know.�

Tracy said Karros will help determine the Dodgers’ course.

“I have the utmost confidence in our medical people, and when you’re dealing with something that involves the back, there’s nobody who knows themselves better than the individual,� Tracy said. “You just have to deal with each specific case individually.

“I don’t want to look at it, and I don’t think that Eric Karros wants to look at it, as it’s such a bad situation it’s definitely a disabled-list situation. That conversation hasn’t even come up.�

With Karros sitting out, Tracy moved Gary Sheffield and Shawn Green down in the batting order.

Sheffield, the No. 3 batter, batted cleanup and Green went from that spot to sixth. Tracy’s thinking?

“There’s a reason for that,� said Tracy, who also shuffled the order in other spots. “I want to try to do everything that I possibly can in order to put ourselves in a position where we have this man [Sheffield] coming to the plate with men on base.

“Knowing Gary Sheffield as well as I feel I know him, what I’ve seen as of late . . . we’ve been in situations where it’s two out and nobody on and Gary Sheffield up to the plate. Or we make the third out of the inning and Gary Sheffield is leading the inning off.

“Being the professional that he is and one of the leaders of this ballclub, Sheff is trying to create something by himself. That’s very difficult to do.�

Sheffield was one for three with two walks in his first game batting cleanup this season.

Todd Hollandsworth finally feels comfortable.

The former Dodger outfielder has found success with the Rockies, putting the turmoil at Chavez Ravine behind him.

The Dodgers traded the 1996 National League rookie of the year to the Rockies last season in a deal that brought back Tom Goodwin to Los Angeles, and Hollandsworth signed a two-year, $5.5-million contract in the off-season.

Hollandsworth still has many friends on the club--reliever Matt Herges is his brother-in-law--and he wishes them the best.

But the Rockies suit him better.

“When you hit that bump in the road, when the organization was going through turmoil in ’97 and ‘98, when guys were having great years and we’re not winning, then all the questions starting popping up,� Hollandsworth said. “Then the changes start, and when the changes start, that’s when everybody’s in that position of flux.

“Nobody knows where they’re going. Are we going up? Are we going down? Are we a group? Faces are changing, guys are coming in and out. We’re talking high-level executives.�

Andy Ashby (right elbow strain) threw on a flat surface in the bullpen and said he did not experience pain. The right-hander, who hopes to throw on a mound this week, will be reevaluated today.

TODAY

DODGERS’

KEVIN BROWN

(5-2, 1.86 ERA)

vs.

ROCKIES’

PEDRO ASTACIO

(4-4, 4.50 ERA)

Coors Field, noon PDT

TV--Fox Sports Net 2

Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330)

Update--Brown is coming off his worst performance of the season Friday in the Dodgers’ 8-0 loss to the New York Mets at Shea Stadium. The right-hander, leading the league in earned-run average, is 7-4 with a 3.09 ERA against the Rockies. Astacio has given up 22 earned runs in his last 28 innings. The right-hander is 3-3 with a 5.10 ERA against his former team.