Valdes Says Stomach Is Fine and He Is Eager to Return

Ismael Valdes believes he is well enough to pitch after sitting out the Dodgers’ last 21 games because of strained stomach muscles.

The right-hander said he hasn’t experienced pain recently, and he is scheduled to make a rehabilitation start with the Class-A Vero Beach Dodgers on Saturday. If all goes well, Valdes will rejoin the team in Atlanta and might be activated from the disabled list next week.

“I feel great,” Valdes said. “I didn’t have any pain after I threw off the mound [Tuesday], and I feel fine [Wednesday].

“Everything looks real good for me to come back and help my team. I just have to pitch a little first, but I want to get back to help my team.”

Manager Glenn Hoffman said Valdes will be limited to 75 pitches during his start against the Port St. Lucie Mets. Hoffman hasn’t had much to smile about lately, so he’s understandably pleased about Valdes’ progress.

“It’s great that we might have Rocket [Valdes] back pretty soon,” he said. “It’s huge that he’s getting so close because everyone is looking for pitching right now.

“Rocket was really helping us the way he was throwing before the injury. We need that now, but we have to make sure he’s ready.”

Valdes was pitching well when he suffered the injury July 27, winning his previous three starts to improve his record to 9-9 with a 3.92 earned-run average. He had been the Dodgers’ most consistent starter since staff ace Ramon Martinez suffered a season-ending shoulder injury June 14.

“This was very hard for me because my team is struggling,” Valdes said.

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The Dodgers are planning to make sweeping front-office changes after team President Bob Graziano hires Tom Lasorda’s successor as general manager.

The new player-personnel chief will have significant input in the long-overdue reshaping of the scouting and development departments. Jim Bowden and Dave Dombrowski, general managers of the Cincinnati Reds and Florida Marlins, respectively, are the leading candidates.

Longtime Dodger executives Charlie Blaney, vice president of minor league operations, and Terry Reynolds, scouting director, are on the hot seat because of numerous poor decisions. Blaney and Reynolds have applied for the general manager’s position but aren’t expected to receive consideration.

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Third baseman Bobby Bonilla plans to take two days off on the trip because he is experiencing swelling in his wrists.

* Opponent--Florida Marlins, two games.

* Site--Pro Player Stadium.

* Today--4 p.m. PDT

* TV--Channel 5 today and Friday.

* Radio--AM 1150, KWKW (1330).

* Records--Dodgers 62-64, Marlins 45-81.

* 1997 record vs. Marlins--3-4.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

DAVE MLICKI

(6-6, 4.99 ERA)

vs.

MARLINS’

RAFAEL MEDINA

(0-1, 9.15 ERA)

* Update--This marks the Dodgers’ first trip to Florida since Mike Piazza (now with the New York Mets) was traded to the Marlins in a seven-player deal May 15. Gary Sheffield, Bobby Bonilla, Charles Johnson and Jim Eisenreich were key members of Florida’s World Series championship team last season. Mlicki might lose his spot in the starting the rotation when right-hander Ismael Valdes is activated from the disabled list.

* Friday, 4 p.m. PDT--Chan Ho Park (10-7, 4.04) vs. Livan Hernandez (10-8, 4.38).