Mondesi Doesn’t Want a Day Off

Right fielder Raul Mondesi said he prefers to play every day because “taking days off won’t help the team.”

However, Mondesi might benefit from a little break at this point.

Mondesi has slowed down at the plate the last few weeks after beginning the season on a torrid pace. Mondesi batted .305 with 10 home runs and 27 runs batted in during May, finishing the first two months of the season with 18 homers and 44 RBIs.

Since then?

Mondesi is batting only .212 in 17 games this month. He has one homer and six RBIs during that span. Overall, Mondesi is batting .267, leading the team with 19 homers and 50 RBIs.

Good numbers, but Mondesi might be more productive if he mixed in a day off once in a while. Then again, he might not be, Mondesi said.

“Nah, I don’t need any days off,” said Mondesi, struggling in a two-for-26 slump. “I feel good right now. I need to play to help the team win games. We need to get going and win some games.”

Mondesi is the only Dodger who has played in every game this season. When Manager Davey Johnson offered to give Mondesi the day off Sunday, Mondesi said he would take Monday off instead.

Of course, the Dodgers were off Monday.

“They don’t pay me to take days off,” Mondesi said. “They pay me to play. That’s what I’m doing.”

*

General Manager Kevin Malone has had several conversations with Darren Dreifort’s agent, Scott Boras, about how the young right-hander has been handled this season.

Dreifort won’t say it, but it’s obvious he is uncomfortable working with catcher Todd Hundley, who has thrown out only seven of 60 of runners. Scouts said Dreifort, as well as other Dodger pitchers, rush their deliveries to try to compensate for Hundley’s deficiencies behind the plate.

Among other things, Boras informed Malone that Dreifort is 2-0 with a 2.77 earned-run average this season while working with former backup catcher Paul LoDuca, who was optioned to triple-A Albuquerque on May 18.

Johnson recently changed his mind about putting Dreifort in the bullpen, and Dreifort responded Saturday with a strong outing while working with rookie Angel Pena, who has been elevated to the No. 1 catcher.

Dreifort gave up one run in 6 2/3 innings during an 8-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Dreifort improved to 6-5 while lowering his ERA from 6.42 to 5.96. He appears to have again solidified his spot in the rotation.

ON DECK

* Opponent--San Diego Padres, three games.

* Site--Dodger Stadium.

* Tonight--7.

* TV--Fox Sports West 2, all games.

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

* Records--Dodgers 32-35, Padres 28-38.

* Record vs. Padres--1-2.

* Tickets--(323) 224-1448.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ CHAN HO PARK (4-4, 5.26 ERA)

vs.

PADRES’ STERLING HITCHCOCK (4-6, 4.78 ERA)

* Update--Park gave up 11 hits and was charged with seven earned runs in an 8-3 loss to Pittsburgh on Thursday. Padre right fielder Tony Gwynn has been slowed by a sore left calf but is expected to play. Gwynn needs 18 hits to reach 3,000.

* Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.--Ismael Valdes (5-6, 3.60) vs. Woody Williams (2-5, 3.76).

* Thursday, 7 p.m.--Darren Dreifort (6-5, 5.96) vs. TBA.