Gagne Knows This Might Be It

Eric Gagne sees the handwriting on the wall.

Although the Dodgers have not announced who will be bumped from the rotation to make room for Ismael Valdes, Gagne figures he’s the top candidate.

The rookie right-hander is experiencing growing pains, and a pennant race isn’t the time for development. The Dodgers believe Gagne has a bright future, but he’s 1-6 with a 5.59 earned-run average.

He will start today against the Colorado Rockies in the final game of a four-game series, and then, who knows? The Dodgers are expected to option Gagne to triple-A Albuquerque to make room for Valdes on the roster and in the rotation, but Gagne is thinking positive.

He said all he can control is his performance, and he’s going to have fun today regardless of what the future brings.

“I put too much pressure on myself, and I know that, but it’s hard not to because I want to help my teammates,” Gagne said. “It’s easy to say I should just relax and have more fun, because that’s what this game is about, but it’s hard when you’re out there and you’re making mistakes.

“I know the organization is behind me 100%, and that makes me want to do even more to help the team. But I know now that I have to just try to have some more fun.”

Catcher Todd Hundley and pitcher Kevin Brown are helping Gagne, and he’s trying to apply what they tell him.

“Brownie tells me all the time, ‘It’s not your stuff, you just are making a few mistakes,’ ” Gagne said. “Hot Rod [Hundley] tells me all the time to just relax and have fun because he knows what I can do.

“No matter what happens [today], I’m going to go out there and have fun.”

*

Hundley, on the disabled list because of a broken right thumb, expects to be activated today or Friday.

“It’s feeling a lot better,” Hundley said. “It’s not going to be much longer.”

TODAY

DODGERS’ ERIC GAGNE

(1-6, 5.59 ERA)

vs.

ROCKIES’ KEVIN JARVIS

(2-4, 6.56 ERA)

Coors Field, Noon

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

* Update--Gagne will be making his first appearance against the Rockies. He struggled Saturday in the San Francisco Giants’ 5-2 victory, giving up six hits--including three home runs--and five runs in five innings.