BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Home Stand Seen as ‘Make or Break’

Sure, it’s only June. It’s too early for the dog days of summer, let alone talk of a pennant stretch.

Yet, the Dodgers say that their 11-game home stand beginning tonight against the San Francisco Giants, followed by divisional rivals San Diego and Colorado, might be the most pivotal of the season.

“This could make or break us,” left fielder Billy Ashley said. “It’s that big.”

Said catcher Mike Piazza: “No question it’s a big home stand. It’s going to set the tone for the rest of the summer.”

The Dodgers (26-26), who defeated the St. Louis Cardinals, 10-1, Wednesday, won four of their last five games and six of nine on the trip. Yet, they’ve struggled at home, winning eight of 22 games, the fifth-worst record in baseball.

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Giant Manager Dusty Baker and hitting coach Bobby Bonds criticized Lasorda and the club for their views on Darryl Strawberry, telling Bay area reporters that Lasorda has no right to judge whether Strawberry should be allowed to return to baseball.

“Darryl should be grateful the courts make the judgments instead of Lasorda,” Bonds said. “Didn’t the Dodgers give Steve Howe three of his eight chances? If Lasorda didn’t mention Howe’s name, maybe he needs to look at himself in the mirror.

“For other people to judge like they’re God is a mistake. There’s only one judge, and that’s the man upstairs. Some people have a tendency to believe maybe they’re him.”

Said Baker: “He’s [Lasorda] not the judge. I don’t see how anybody can make a judgment unless you have a robe on.”

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Dodger starter Pedro Astacio, who has lost his last five starts with a 7.11 ERA, is tentatively scheduled to make his Sunday start against the Giants. The Dodgers don’t believe that Willie Banks, who will pitch to batters today, will be ready.