Osuna May Try Minors Again

Right-hander Antonio Osuna continues to try to avoid elbow surgery again, saying he did not experience pain Friday in his throwing elbow after working in the bullpen.

Osuna, who underwent elbow surgery to remove a bone spur in September, told team officials his right elbow felt fine after his 15-minute session before the series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals. Osuna was put on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday (retroactive to last Sunday) after an MRI exam on his elbow revealed another bone spur.

Team physicians recommended surgery, but Osuna requested to delay the procedure in an attempt to work through the pain. Manager Davey Johnson said Osuna may be sent to Class-A San Bernardino to begin a rehabilitation assignment Sunday if he remains pain free today.

“He threw the heck out of the ball,” Johnson said. “If he’s OK [today], maybe we’ll send him back out and let him rehab.”

Osuna was activated from the disabled list last Friday after completing a rehabilitation assignment with San Bernardino. He pitched a scoreless inning the next day in a 7-3 victory over the San Diego Padres, but then began experiencing pain again.

Although the Dodgers believe Osuna requires surgery, others have pitched effectively with bone spurs.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I threw all my pitches and I feel good,” Osuna said. “I threw very hard in my pen. I threw my breaking ball, fastball changeup--no problems. Now, we just have to wait and see.”

Osuna is making $1 million this season. The club holds options for $1.5 million and $2.5 million, respectively, in 2000 and 2001.

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As expected, outfielder Todd Hollandsworth was activated from the disabled list and ineffective reliever Robinson Checo was optioned to triple-A Albuquerque.

Hollandsworth was sidelined the first 16 games because of a right hamstring strain. He was four for 11 with a double and three runs batted in during his three-game rehabilitation assignment at San Bernardino.

“I can spot start him and double-switch with him,” Johnson said. “He’s a good bat coming off the bench.”

As for Checo, he couldn’t leave town fast enough for Dodger fans. The right-hander is among three minor league pitchers acquired last Friday in the payroll-trimming deal that sent starter Dave Mlicki and reliever Mel Rojas to the Detroit Tigers.

Checo was pounded in two appearances, giving up 10 hits--including two home runs--and seven earned runs in 3 2/3 innings. He walked one and had a 17.18 earned-run average.

Johnson said Checo will work in the starting rotation with the Dukes.

“He’s got to get the ball down to make better pitches,” Johnson said. “He’s got a strong arm, but his pitches were flat and a little up.”

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Right-handed setup man Alan Mills, suffering from a sore throwing shoulder, threw in the bullpen Friday without pain. He was unavailable for Friday’s game and won’t be available today. Mills will be reevaluated before Sunday’s game. . . . Veteran free-agent pitcher Mike Maddux worked out for the Dodgers on Friday. . . . The Dodgers honored Cardinal slugger Mark McGwire and his Little League, Damien High School and USC coaches before Friday’s game.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

ISMAEL VALDES

(1-0, 4.12 ERA)

vs.

CARDINALS’

DONOVAN OSBORNE

(0-1, 4.40 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 7

TV--Channel 5. Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

* Update--Valdes is coming off his second consecutive no-decision Sunday in a 4-3 loss to the Padres. The right-hander struggled through 6 1/3 innings, pitching with a blister on the tip of the middle finger of his throwing hand. Valdes, who gave up six hits and three runs in that outing, was unable to throw curveballs. On Friday, Valdes said the blister had healed. “Oh, yeah, it’s a lot better,” Valdes said. “It feels good now; I can make all my pitches.” The Cardinals are 0-3 in Osborne’s starts.