DODGERS REPORT : Most Call-Ups Next Week

Infielder Tripp Cromer, who was sidelined because of an irregular heartbeat, is expected to be the only player added by the Dodgers to the big league club today when rosters are expanded.

Others expected to be called up next week when the minor league teams finish play are pitchers Carlos Perez, Jamie Arnold, Jeff Williams and Eric Gagne and infielder Alex Cora.

“Tripp is a super utility infielder/outfielder,” Manager Davey Johnson said. “In a perfect world, we would bring up more, but we are already top-heavy in infielders. We don’t want to pay players to just sit around [at this level].

“In all probability, we will bring up Cora because he’s doing the best [.315 average in 74 games at triple-A Albuquerque], and because I didn’t see him [play] in the spring. He had a fractured hand.”

Johnson said the only outfielder the Dodgers might have brought up is Kevin Gibbs, but he is sidelined because of a lesion in his right shoulder.

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While some players are headed to the parent club, two others were shipped Tuesday in the opposite direction. Pitcher Antonio Osuna (recovering from arthroscopic elbow surgery) and Robinson Checo (groin strain) will go to the San Bernardino Stampede, a Class-A Dodger affiliate, on rehab assignments.

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Dodger General Manager Kevin Malone says he gets the same reaction from players on various teams when he meets them around the batting cage these days.

“None of them can believe where we are at with the talent we have,” Malone said. “They can’t believe we are not preparing ourselves for the postseason. A lot of people are scratching their heads trying to figure out what this year was about.”

Put Malone on that list as well.

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First baseman Eric Karros was excused from Tuesday night’s game for personal reasons.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ ISMAEL VALDES (9-11, 3.29 ERA) vs. BREWERS’ CAL ELDRED (1-7, 8.07)

Dodger Stadium, 4:30 p.m.

TV--Fox Sports West 2. Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

* Update--This is the only 4:30 start of the season, set up for the sake of the Brewers, who must play in Milwaukee on Thursday. This is also the final game of the home stand. Valdes is coming off his first complete game and first shutout of the season, having beaten the Chicago Cubs, 9-0, last Friday. Eldred, whose record hasn’t been above .500 in any season since his rookie year of 1992, apparently will fall short again. Since winning his only game back in May, Eldred has lost six decisions.