BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Belcher Might Miss Start at Atlanta

One day after suffering a strained groin muscle, Tim Belcher remains unsure whether he can make his scheduled start Saturday at Atlanta.

Kevin Gross will be kept out of the bullpen until then in case he is needed to replace Belcher. Belcher was walking without pain Tuesday, but therapist Pat Screnar emphasized that walking and pitching are two vastly different mechanics.

“We’ll just have to wait and see if the leg calms down enough to that he can push off a mound with it,” Screnar said.

Belcher indicated that he would not want to risk missing the rest of the season simply to make one start at Atlanta.

“I have thought about that, and I know I don’t want to compound the problem,” Belcher said. “I want to be at 100%, and I don’t want to hurt the team.”

Belcher spoke to Bill White, National League president, about the problems with the Riverfront Stadium mound, which he said caused his injury. He said White seemed sympathetic, and he hopes for action this winter. . . . Tony Swain, field superintendent at Riverfront Stadium, acknowledged that installing the mound so quickly after Sunday night’s football game here may have affected it. “It may not have been as firm because we had to move it,” Swain said. “It may have needed to soften up some. But it’s fine now (Tuesday).”