BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Griffin May Play by This Weekend

Trainers said Monday that Alfredo Griffin can play with a surgically inserted pin still in his cheek, meaning the Dodger shortstop could return to the lineup as soon as this weekend, less than a month after suffering a broken cheekbone.

Griffin, who will have to wear a protective plastic mask the rest of the season, will be examined by doctors when the team returns to Los Angeles on Wednesday.

“The decision is completely up to the doctors, but the mask will certainly protect his cheek,” assistant trainer Charlie Strasser said.

The Dodgers are 11-9 in Griffin’s absence. Jose Offerman, his rookie replacement, has committed seven errors during that time.

Brett Butler stopped Monday night’s game in the fifth inning to hand an extra bat to a young fan after he hit the fan with a bat he threw into the seats above the Chicago Cubs’ dugout. Cub fans actually cheered. . . . Butler grounded into his first double play in 442 at-bats Sunday at St. Louis. It was his second double play-grounder of the season.

Salary Drive: Shawon Dunston, the Cubs’ shortstop and potential free agent who could interest the Dodgers, has a 12-game hitting streak, and is batting .571 during that time with nine runs scored.