BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Howell Will Miss Series With Braves

Jay Howell, who has twice as many saves as any other Dodger relief pitcher, apparently will not be available for this weekend’s series against the Atlanta Braves because of his sore elbow.

Howell, who received a cortisone injection in the elbow Saturday, threw at half speed for about 10 minutes in the Houston Astrodome Thursday and did not feel good enough to throw any curveballs.

He will not throw again until Saturday, when he hopes his elbow will suddenly feel good enough to allow him to pitch Sunday, but it is unlikely.

“If I am not 100%, I don’t want to pitch and risk hurting the team,” said Howell, who has 15 saves. “I’ll certainly be disappointed if I have to miss this series, but we have a big series against them in Los Angeles next week. These aren’t the last games of the season.”

The situation is not as bad as it could be, because the Dodgers have two pitchers they will use as stoppers, Jim Gott and Roger McDowell.

Gott has not given up a run in his last 10 appearances covering 16 2/3 innings. McDowell had three wins in a recent stretch of six appearances.

Gary Carter, scheduled to be the catcher in today’s series opener against the Braves’ Tom Glavine, said that he had a cortisone injection in his right elbow last Wednesday. Two days later, he started both games of the doubleheader in Pittsburgh.

He did not start Monday against Cincinnati Red left-hander Randy Myers because of soreness, but Carter said he feels fine.

“This time of the year, this is what you have to do,” he said. “The elbow feels good enough to play, and that’s all that matters.”

Brett Butler was hitless in three at-bats and was not moving at full speed Thursday because of a stiff lower back, but he will play this weekend. . . . Kevin Gross said he is preparing himself as if he will start Saturday in Atlanta in place of Tim Belcher, but it won’t be certain until Belcher throws off a mound in Atlanta on Friday. “Right now I’m thinking like a starter,” Gross said. “It’s going to be tough, this will be maybe the biggest series I have ever been in. But it’s going to be fun.” . . . Orel Hershiser said he felt great Thursday after throwing 86 pitches Wednesday. “For the first time, my lower body is more sore than my upper body,” said Hershiser, who will make his scheduled start Monday against the Cincinnati Reds in Los Angeles if his shoulder stays loose. . . . John Candelaria, who has not pitched since Sept. 6, is showing improvement in his sore elbow and will be available this weekend.