Beltre Not Ready to Return Yet

A pair of hamstrung Dodger regulars appear headed in opposite directions, as far as returning to everyday duty in the field.

While third baseman Adrian Beltre, who has been sidelined because of a strained right hamstring, apparently will not come off the 15-day disabled list today, when he is eligible to do so, center fielder Todd Hollandsworth believes his sore right hamstring will be healed enough to allow him to contribute in this week’s series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Both players were supposed to run the bases at full speed for Manager Davey Johnson before Sunday’s game against the Oakland Athletics but did not, what with the pregame, on-field photo-day festivities.

“It feels better and it’s on schedule,” said Hollandsworth, who is shooting for Tuesday as a target return date after suffering his injury at Edison Field against the Angels on June 3. “The next test is running the bases. I’ve been running on the treadmill at an incline and if there’s no problems [today] then I should be fine.

“I’m very happy they didn’t put me on the DL. It should be two or three days [more] at the most, unless there’s a setback.”

Beltre, meanwhile, said his leg still felt a tad stiff after running the bases Saturday.

“It’s not 100% right now and I just don’t know,” he said.

*

Alex Cora’s strong play at shortstop in a pair of recall stints this season may prove to be another numbers headache for the Dodgers when Beltre comes off the disabled list.

Kevin Elster, who had beaten Cora out for the starting job at short in spring training, has been playing third base since Beltre was injured.

“I didn’t come to prove anything to anybody. I’m just here to do a job,” Cora said. “I’m just thinking about today, not the past or the future.”

Entering Sunday’s game, Cora was batting .313 without a home run and had four runs batted in. Elster was hitting only .223 but had nine homers and 20 RBIs in almost twice as many at-bats as Cora.

“The good thing is, I’m improving every day,” Cora said. “I’m preparing myself better and getting results.”

*

Orel Hershiser’s return from Class-A San Bernardino has been put on hold for another day.

“We’re going to talk,” Johnson said, “but there’s no earthshaking revelations at this point.”

Hershiser has had three quality starts for the Stampede, which is chasing a California League South Division title, and pitched a bullpen workout Sunday at Dodger Stadium.

ON DECK

* Opponent--Arizona Diamondbacks, four games.

* Site--Dodger Stadium.

* Tonight--7 p.m.

* TV--Fox Sports Net 2 tonight through Wednesday, Channel 5 Thursday.

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

* Records--Dodgers 33-27, Diamondbacks 37-25.

* Record vs. Diamondbacks--0-3.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

DARREN DREIFORT

(4-3, 4.90 ERA)

vs.

DIAMONDBACKS’

BRIAN ANDERSON

(5-1, 4.85 ERA)

* Update--Dreifort did not face Arizona in the Diamondbacks’ three-game sweep of the Dodgers at Phoenix last month. He is 2-2 with a 2.64 ERA in five appearances against Arizona. The left-handed Anderson, who had an 11-game winning streak dating to last July ended by the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, is 2-2 with a 2.63 ERA against the Dodgers in eight games.

* Tuesday, 7 p.m.--Chan Ho Park (7-4, 4.33 ERA) vs. Mike Morgan (1-0, 2.54 ERA).

* Wednesday, 7 p.m.--Carlos Perez (4-2, 5.16 ERA) vs. Randy Johnson (10-1, 1.42 ERA).

* Thursday, 7 p.m.--Kevin Brown (5-2, 2.41 ERA) vs. Todd Stottlemyre (8-3, 4.38 ERA).

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