Dark Clouds Have a Dodger Blue Lining

The Dodgers returned to Los Angeles on Wednesday after defeating the Montreal Expos, 4-2, at Holman Stadium.

They finished with a 16-9-1 record here after winning seven of their last eight games, and have an off-day today. They begin the three-game Freeway Series against the Angels on Friday at Anaheim Stadium.

Manager Bill Russell had been forced to juggle his lineup during much of camp because of injuries to key starters, but some good may have come from the Dodgers’ troubles.

“We got a chance to take a look at a lot of combinations, and to give some guys opportunities they might not have had,” he said. “We feel good about what we saw, and we think we have a lot of guys who can help us.”

The Dodgers haven’t announced their bench yet, but the injuries have made things fairly obvious.

With center fielder Roger Cedeno on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained right hamstring, and left fielder Todd Hollandsworth recovering from a strained left hamstring, the Dodgers will keep outfielders Mike Devereaux, Thomas Howard, Trenidad Hubbard and Matt Luke on the 25-man roster to begin the season. Infielder Juan Castro, infielder-outfielder Wilton Guerrero and catcher Tom Prince complete the bench for now.

Decisions will be made when Cedeno comes off the disabled list, which might be before the Dodgers’ home opener April 7 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Guerrero probably would be the first to go because of his inexperience in the outfield.

Rookie Paul Konerko had been working in left field, but he will play first until Eric Karros returns from arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. Howard is expected to move into the starting lineup in Cedeno’s place, and Devereaux and Hubbard also will play.

“We will take a look at things when we have to,” Russell said.

“We have to wait to see how things work out after we get going.”

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Hollandsworth, who returned Tuesday in a minor league game, went two for three with a home run and two runs batted in against the Expos.

He also was hit by a bat that slipped out of Eric Young’s hands in the first inning. “With the way things have been going this spring, I should have expected that,” Hollandsworth said. “I’ve been a magnet for trouble.”

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As expected, Chan Ho Park is the No. 2 starter. Park, who pitched four scoreless innings, will start the home opener. The starting rotation: 1--Ramon Martinez, 2--Park, 3--Ismael Valdes, 4--Hideo Nomo, 5--Darren Dreifort. . . . Valdes earned the victory, pitching 3 2/3 innings. He has pitched only 13 2/3 innings, so he remained here to start in a minor league game Monday, and will rejoin the team in St. Louis.