BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Howell Struggles During Workout

After Jay Howell struggled while throwing 13 minutes of batting practice Friday, pitching coach Ron Perranoski was asked if Howell would be ready for opening day.

“I can’t answer that,” Perranoski said. “We are working toward that, but I would rather he be ready a week after opening day then get into something where he misses three months or six months.”

Howell said: “I’m not sure. . . . All of a sudden, there could be a big change and I could be right on time.”

Howell, the Dodgers’ leader in saves the last four seasons, has a sore shoulder. If he were to start the season on the disabled list, his place in the bullpen would be taken by Kip Gross, while Roger McDowell would take over as closer.

McDowell was 5-1 with five saves and a 1.61 earned-run-average in the Dodgers’ final 33 games last season. He recently added a knuckle-curve to complement his sinkerball.

“I wanted something slower, something to keep the hitters off-balance a little bit,” McDowell said.

Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda moved Juan Samuel from second to sixth in the order, placing the platoon of Lenny Harris and Mike Sharperson in the second slot, for Friday’s 5-4 exhibition loss to the Boston Red Sox.

The Nos. 3 through 5 hitters will remain some combination of Kal Daniels, Eric Davis and Darryl Strawberry, with Davis and Strawberry alternating as cleanup hitter.

Jesus Martinez, 18, brother of Ramon and Pedro Martinez, gave up one unearned run in two innings with a Dodger rookie-league team against the Canadian national team.