BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Ojeda Pitching Despite Rib Injury

Bob Ojeda, who has been the Dodgers’ most consistent pitcher since August, admitted Thursday that he has been suffering from slightly torn cartilage in his rib cage since Aug. 7.

The injury, announced as a strain, occurred while he was pitching six scoreless innings in a victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Aug. 7. Since then, including that game, he is 3-0 with a 2.45 earned-run average in nine starts. He has given up more than two runs in only three of those nine starts.

Ojeda said he has had two cortisone shots since the injury.

“I’m able to ignore it on the mound. . . . I guess I’m just stupid,” Ojeda said. “This time of the year, you’re able to deal with those sorts of things. With so much on the line, you can say, ‘Hey, I’ve got all winter to feel good.’ ”

Orel Hershiser, as expected, has been rewarded for two good recent starts by being put in the starting rotation for this weekend’s series against the Atlanta Braves.

Hershiser, who has given up two runs in 13 innings with no walks in his past 30 2/3 innings, will start Saturday against Charlie Leibrandt. He will replace Ramon Martinez, who is tentatively scheduled to start Sunday after complaining of continued soreness in his right biceps, which was injured Aug. 20.

However, Martinez could still be replaced Sunday by Ojeda. Martinez said he will throw for the Dodger coaches today, and no decision will be made until after they are satisfied his fastball is not affected by the painful knot in his right arm.

Mike Morgan won his career-high 13th game Wednesday, despite a harrowing experience two days earlier when his wife Kassie was rushed to the hospital after getting Krazy Glue in her eye. Morgan missed Tuesday’s game to care for his wife, and worried about it before Wednesday’s start. He finally relaxed Thursday when she awoke with tears in her eye. . . . Fred Claire, Dodger vice president, confirmed Thursday that even if relief pitcher Jay Howell is put on the disabled list, Steve Wilson cannot replace him on the playoff roster. A player must have been in the organization as of Aug. 31 to be eligible, and Wilson was acquired Sept. 6. The replacement for Howell probably would be either left-hander Dennis Cook or right-hander John Wetteland.

Nobody will work harder this weekend than Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda, who will spend about 2 1/2 hours Saturday swimming 101 laps--more than three miles--in the Los Angeles Police Academy pool in celebration of his 64th birthday, which is Sunday. . . . Backup catcher Gary Carter said his sore right elbow, which is discolored after three cortisone shots and constant therapy, will be fine for this weekend, when he will undoubtedly be playing because the Braves are throwing three left-handers. . . . Darryl Strawberry tied a record for homers against the Houston Astros with 10 this season. . . . Stan Javier confirmed that he will undergo off-season surgery on his right elbow for bone chips.