Valdes With Family in Mexico

Pitcher Ismael Valdes remained with his family in Mexico on Friday and is not expected to rejoin the Dodgers for the final two games of the season.

The right-hander left the team Monday to be with his father, who has been badly injured in an automobile accident. Team officials have had little contact with Valdes during the last several days.

“I haven’t heard from him,” Manager Davey Johnson said. “Without him being here to throw on the side, it would be almost impossible for him to pitch on Sunday [in the regular-season finale].

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Left fielder Gary Sheffield spoke with former team president Bob Graziano by phone Friday to thank him for his support since being traded to the Dodgers.

“He supported me and he was there for me,” Sheffield said of Graziano, whose firing was announced Tuesday. “And not just with big things, but with the little things also. The little things are what really count with me.”

TODAY

DODGERS’ CHAN HO PARK (13-10, 5.38 ERA) vs. ASTROS’ JOSE LIMA (20-10, 3.70 ERA)

Astrodome, 1 p.m. PDT

TV--Ch. 11. Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

* Update--Park was supposed to return to South Korea this week to begin four weeks of military basic training, but Valdes’ situation forced him to remain. Park is 5-0 with a 4.36 earned-run average in his last six starts.