More Questions Than Answers in This Lineup

Thinned by injury and illness, the Dodgers packed up their equipment and flew to Arizona on Sunday night with a lot of lineup question marks.

Center fielder Raul Mondesi was held out of the starting lineup for the second consecutive day because of stiffness in his back, an injury that originally surfaced, then subsided, earlier this season.

Trenidad Hubbard started in center on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Matt Luke, who has been getting the majority of the at-bats in right field since the season-ending ankle injury to Gary Sheffield, returned to the ballpark Sunday after a trip to the hospital on Saturday when he suffered from flu-like symptoms.

Luke said he was diagnosed with chronic sinusitis, which involves the swelling of the sinus cavities and includes nausea.

“I’m on every medication known to man,” said Luke, who was not available to play Sunday but accompanied the team to Phoenix. “It’s not contagious, which is good. But it was not a lot of fun.”

To complete the outfield medical report, Roger Cedeno also was suffering from flu-like symptoms and was held out of the game. Cedeno did not accompany the team to Phoenix, Manager Glenn Hoffman said.

The injuries forced Hoffman to move third baseman Bobby Bonilla to left, and put Jim Eisenreich in right field. There were no healthy backups on Sunday.

Adrian Beltre played third base to replace Bonilla.

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The Dodger pitching staff isn’t immune, either.

The team decided to schedule an MRI on Tuesday for left-handed reliever Mark Guthrie, who has pitched sparingly of late while nursing a sore elbow.

With left-hander Scott Radinsky also iffy because of a tender elbow and Antonio Osuna out for the season because of pending elbow surgery, Hoffman’s choices for middle relief are down to rookies Sean Maloney, Jeff Kubenka and Eric Weaver.

“We’re banged-up,” Hoffman said. “That’s why the complete games [three in the last six games] have helped.

“The starters have kept us in it.”

ON DECK

Opponent--Arizona Diamondbacks, three games.

Site--Bank One Ballpark.

Tonight--6 p.m.

TV--Today, Fox Sports West 2.

Radio--AM 1150, KWKW (1330).

Records--Dodgers 72-71, Arizona 57-87.

Record vs. Diamondback--6-3.

Tickets--(213) 224-1448.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ DAVE MLICKI (8-6, 4.56 ERA) vs. DIAMONDBACKS’ ANDY BENES (11-13, 4.55 ERA)

Update--In three series against the expansion club, the Dodgers have taken two of three from the Diamondbacks. Arizona had a club-record seven-game winning streak from Aug. 28-Sept. 4 (against Pittsburgh, Milwaukee and Houston), until losing two in a row to the Astros this weekend. Mlicki’s last start was his best of the season, pitching a complete game against the Mets, his former team, in a 4-2 victory on Aug. 30. Benes is 0-2 vs. the Dodgers this season.

Tuesday, 7 p.m.--Dodgers’ Ismael Valdes (10-9, 3.74) vs. Diamondbacks’ Brian Anderson (11-12, 4.51 ERA).

Wednesday, 7:30--Dodgers’ Carlos Perez (8-13, 3.95) vs. Diamondbacks’ Amaury Telemaco (6-8, 3.67 ERA).