NAMES & NUMBERS

The Atlanta Braves might have a difficult time staying close to the Dodgers with their bullpen weakened by injuries. Their three top relievers, Juan Berenguer, Kent Mercker and Marvin Freeman, all were put on the disabled list in an 11-day stretch through Wednesday, although Mercker came off Saturday.

Berenguer, the save leader with 17, injured his forearm when he hit a table while wrestling with his children and is out indefinitely.

The current five Atlanta relievers have five saves this year--four by Mike Stanton--and three of those five pitchers began the season in the minors.

Having switched to Andre Dawson’s bat, Chicago Cub shortstop Shawon Dunston seems to have emerged from his season-long struggle, batting .417 over a 16-game span through Thursday. That could be a free-agent drive and it could take him as far as Los Angeles, depending on his and Jose Offerman’s performances during the next six weeks.

Of the six managerial changes since the start of the season, the most successful from a won-lost standpoint has been that of the Kansas City Royals, who are 46-36 since Hal McRae replaced John Wathan.

General Manager Herk Robinson said the team’s response “exceeded our expectations.”

And George Brett said the Royals have “gotten back to playing hit-and-run, stealing bases, being aggressive, which is what we have to do to win.”

The return of that aggressiveness, coupled with a .284 team average under McRae, seems to bode well for next year, but Brett will be 39 then, Kirk Gibson will be 35 and Danny Tartabull might be elsewhere, after becoming a free agent.

Hard to criticize Jose Canseco’s 35 home runs and 92 runs batted in, but that sub-.260 batting average frustrates Oakland manager Tony La Russa, who insists that Canseco would lose none of his power if he shortened his swing, as he did at times in ‘88, when he had 42 homers, 124 RBIs and a .307 average.

Canseco followed the example of teammate Dave Parker that year, cutting down his swing with two strikes, which he was saddled with when hitting 22 of those 42 homers.

Now?

“He’s hungry to drive in runs, and with the tying or winning run on base, he’s swinging big,” La Russa said. “The only way a pitcher is going to stop him is if he throws the ball in the dugout.”

A two-out, two-run homer by Dickie Thon gave the Philadelphia Phillies a 6-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates Tuesday night, ending a streak of 346 games since their last ninth-inning victory at home. The Phillies enjoyed the feeling so much they beat the Pirates again in the ninth inning Wednesday and in the 10th inning Thursday.

The sweep, coupled with his team’s improved pitching and play under Manager Jim Fregosi, has General Manager Lee Thomas talking about ownership’s willingness now to pursue a free agent or two, possibly making the Phillies a legitimate threat next year.

If the St. Louis Cardinals believe they are out of it, and the Chicago White Sox believe they are still in it after this week, the White Sox may make a bid for Pedro Guerrero as a September bat, particularly if Bo Jackson isn’t ready to return to the Chicago lineup.

The Cardinals are unlikely to retain Guerrero, a free agent at the end of the year, and would love to get something for him while they can. Manager Joe Torre is known to have his eye on Wally Joyner, the Angel first baseman who will be eligible for free agency in ’92.

Jim Bouton, noting that Scott Erickson of the Minnesota Twins has been battling an arm problem, said things have changed since he pitched.

“Back then, when you had a sore arm, the only people concerned were you and your wife,” he said. “Now, it’s you, your wife, your agent, your investment counselor, your stockbroker and your publisher.”