Young Expects to Play

Second baseman Eric Young said he plans to be in the starting lineup tonight when the Dodgers open a three-game series against the Florida Marlins at Dodger Stadium.

Young sat out the final two games of the three-game series against the Montreal Expos that ended Wednesday because he strained his right calf in the first inning of the series-opening, 7-0 victory Monday.

But the leadoff batter--off to the best start of his seven-year career--said his calf felt “100% better” Thursday after receiving treatment from team trainers Charlie Strasser and Stan Johnston.

“Definitely,” Young responded when asked whether he would play tonight. “It got better and better the last couple of days on the trip, I just have to keep it stretched out.

“I wanted to play [Wednesday], but Skip [Manager Davey Johnson] wasn’t going for it. You know how he is.”

Johnson did not want Young playing on the hard artificial surface at Olympic Stadium, fearing he would aggravate his calf strain and possibly be sidelined on the home stand.

“E.Y. was itchin’ to get back out there, but I wasn’t going to take any chances with him,” Johnson said. “My leadoff guy is too valuable to me.”

Young leads the major leagues with 18 stolen bases and is first in on-base percentage among National League leadoff batters at .443. He has reached base in 24 of the 25 games he has played.

Young, batting .323, is on pace to steal 104 bases. But Young isn’t looking that far.

“Now isn’t the time to even be thinking about stuff like that,” Young said. “We have to keep winning games.

“The guys behind me are swinging the bats well, and our offense is finally getting going. That’s what everybody should be thinking about.”

*

Rookie right-hander Jamie Arnold secured his position as the team’s emergency starter with his surprising performance in an 8-2 victory over the Expos on Wednesday.

Arnold (1-0) gave up only a single in 6 2/3 scoreless innings in place of left-hander Carlos Perez, who was scratched from his scheduled start.

“I might take a closer look at him to make another start,” Johnson said, smiling. “I’m dumb, but I’m not stupid.”

*

Tests conducted Thursday show that Perez has a soft tissue injury to his right thigh. An MRI exam showed no tears to muscles or tendons.

He is listed as day to day.

*

Gary Sheffield has been an offensive force as expected, batting .282 with seven home runs and 21 runs batted in.

Sheffield has also played well defensively in left field. Sheffield reluctantly moved from right to left in spring training to accommodate Raul Mondesi--a two-time Gold Glove Award winner in right.

“I’m feeling more comfortable every day,” Sheffield said. “I didn’t know how it would be, you don’t want to embarrass yourself, and you don’t want to let the team down. I guess it’s going OK.”

Better than OK, Johnson said.

“Sheff has been great out there,” the manager said. “He’s been working hard to get comfortable, and you can see it paying off. That’s just Sheff being a perfectionist [saying it’s only going OK].”

ON DECK

* Opponent--Florida Marlins, three games.

* Site--Dodger Stadium.

* Tonight--7.

* TV--Fox Sports West 2.

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

* Records--Dodgers 16-12, Marlins 6-22.

* Record vs. Marlins (1998)--5-4.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ DARREN DREIFORT (4-1, 4.61 ERA)

vs.

MARLINS’ DENNIS SPRINGER (0-4, 4.31 ERA)

* Update--The Dodgers are coming off their best road trip since August 1997, going 7-2 against the Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Phillies and Montreal Expos. They face the Marlins and Chicago Cubs on the six-game home stand before opening a three-game weekend series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on Friday. Dreifort earned his fourth victory in his previous start, 12-6, against the Philadelphia Phillies last Saturday. Dreifort, who has the most victories on the team, gave up 10 hits and three runs in six innings.

* Saturday, 7 p.m.--Kevin Brown (2-2, 3.32) vs. Livan Hernandez (1-3, 4.70).

* Sunday, 1 p.m.--Chan Ho Park (3-2, 4.86) vs. Jesus Sanchez (0-4, 6.49).

* Tickets--(323) 224-1HIT.