BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Surgery Might End Davis’ Season

The next week might be the most important of the season for Eric Davis, who is attempting to avoid season-ending wrist surgery.

Davis, whose cast was removed Friday, said he hopes to begin swinging a bat Monday and return to the lineup by the end of the home stand Aug. 26.

But he said that X-rays Friday revealed a bone chip that must be removed through surgery if the wrist does not improve.

“The chip is still in there floating around,” Davis said. “If I don’t improve a lot, I might as well get it taken out now so I can be ready for next year.

“I hope that doesn’t happen. I’m counting on getting back in the lineup as soon as I can.”

Davis has played in 68 of the Dodgers’ 116 games. Even during the unluckiest of his six full injury-plagued seasons, he has always played at least 89 games.

Potential free agent Roger McDowell said that he wants to stay a Dodger even if he continues to alternate between being a setup man and a stopper.

He would probably become a full-time setup man next season if the Dodgers acquire a high-priced free-agent stopper such as Tom Henke of the Toronto Blue Jays.

McDowell has struggled since the All-Star break, giving up 16 runs in 15 innings.

John Candelaria said that an examination of his twisted knee Friday revealed no serious damage and that he will continue to pitch. . . . Said Henry Rodriguez, with a .450 average and five runs batted in in his previous six starts before Saturday: “The baseball looks as big as a watermelon. Everything is different when you are relaxed.” It has also helped Rodriguez to do daily extra work with batting instructors Ben Hines and Manny Mota. “In the minor leagues, sometimes it is too hot to take early batting practice. Here, I come out every day for something.” . . . David Spykstra, one of the Dodgers’ top six picks in the recent June amateur draft, is 0-4 with a 9.42 earned-run average in five starts for Great Falls in the rookie league. Some scouts thought Spykstra was a questionable pick because of earlier arm troubles.