BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : For Now, First Base Belongs to Karros

After 11 starts as a platoon first baseman against left-handed pitching, Eric Karros was given a surprise start against right-hander Danny Cox Wednesday.

Manager Tom Lasorda said it should be no surprise. He pronounced Karros as the everyday first baseman while Kal Daniels is on the disabled list, and said the rest is up to Karros.

“You know how I feel about him,” said Lasorda, who has been Karros’ biggest supporter this season. “Now I want to find out definitely if he can do it. We will find out. Right now.”

Karros struck out twice and walked once in three plate appearances against Cox. He is hitless in four at-bats with three strikeouts against right-handers this season.

But he says he is ready.

“When I heard Tommy tell somebody I was starting tonight, I said, ‘What?’ ” Karros said. “I was surprised. It was great. This is all you can ask for.”

Well, perhaps not all you can ask for.

“With (David) Cone and (Bret) Saberhagen coming up against us in New York, it’s like, thank you very much,” Karros said.

The right side of Tom Candiotti’s chest was slightly swollen through the armpit Wednesday, but he said he could probably make his next start. Candiotti was forced out of Tuesday’s game in the third inning when a line drive from John Kruk hit him in the chest. “Where I come from, you take the ball,” Candiotti said. “If there is any way possible, you take the ball.”

In a major setback for the Dodgers’ player development system, former No. 1 draft pick Jamie McAndrew has been demoted from triple-A Albuquerque to double-A San Antonio. McAndrew, one of the Dodgers’ three heralded draft picks in June, 1989, was 1-2 with a 4.68 earned-run average. Neither of the other two picks is much closer to making the major leagues. Tom Goodwin is an outfielder for Albuquerque, but he has been passed over as the Dodgers’ future center fielder by Raul Mondesi. Kiki Jones, still recovering from arm problems, is pitching at Class-A Vero Beach.

Announcer Vin Scully is taking time off this week, missing the Phillies’ series and the three-game series in Montreal next week. . . . Lasorda will speak tonight at a New York Athletic Club benefit for former Brooklyn Dodger Sandy Amoros.