Osuna Could Cause Roster Problem

Reliever Antonio Osuna is close to completing a rehabilitation assignment, but there isn’t room for him on the 25-man roster.

The right-hander has been among the main discussions topics in Chairman Bob Daly’s planning meetings with General Manager Kevin Malone and Manager Davey Johnson. Osuna has been impressive at triple-A Albuquerque while recovering from right elbow surgery last season, though he was scratched from his last outing Sunday after experiencing soreness in his non-pitching shoulder.

He has been pitching pain-free, and his fastball has been clocked consistently at 95 mph. If all goes well, Osuna could be activated Monday and join the club in Arizona on the beginning of a 12-game, 14-day trip.

Of course, the Dodgers would have to make room for him first.

“To be honest about it, I don’t really know what we’re going to do right now,” Malone said. “We’re in a good situation because we’ve already got a good bullpen, and we feel Osuna makes us stronger.

“When you look at our roster, you don’t really see a lot of directions we can go in [to send someone to Albuquerque] because so many guys are playing well. It’s a good problem to have, but it’s still a problem when you’re trying to find room for somebody. I’m open to suggestions.”

Rookie reliever Matt Herges is exceeding expectations, making the situation difficult. Beginning Tuesday’s game against Atlanta, Herges hadn’t been charged with an earned run in 17 innings spanning 11 appearances.

The Dodgers initially planned to option Herges to Albuquerque when Osuna was ready, but Herges’ performance changed the plan. Also, veteran reliever Mike Fetters has been more impressive than the Dodgers could have hoped after coming off elbow surgery.

“Fetters has been great and Herges has really stepped up,” Malone said. “We signed some guys [in the off-season] so that we could have enough help in the bullpen after being short there last season, and we’re just getting more than we counted on from a lot of guys.”

Optioning Geronimo Berroa to Albuquerque is an option. Berroa could have refused to go to the minors as a player with at least five years service time, but Malone persuaded him to waive the right when the Dodgers signed him.

However, Johnson said the bench would be short-handed without the veteran infielder-outfielder.

“I’d prefer not to shorten my bench,” Johnson said. “I’m not ruling that [optioning Berroa] out, but I’d prefer not to go in that direction.”

The Dodgers would prefer to trade struggling reliever Alan Mills for a left-handed reliever. Mills is making $2.25 million this season and $3 million next, and Herges has made Mills expendable.

“The manager is going to have to tell me which 25 players he wants on the team,” Malone said. “It’s going to be up to him.”

*

The Dodgers increased security for Tuesday’s game after a fan ran onto the field Monday night and mooned Atlanta closer John Rocker in the ninth inning of the Braves’ 2-1 victory.

Instead of one usher there are 11 security guards near the visitors’ bullpen, trying to prevent another embarrassing scene. Fans also threw cups and other objects at Rocker.

“After Monday night’s game, we’re definitely taking more precautions for the safety of the fans,” said Derrick Hall, senior vice president. “Our approach has been to treat this series like any other series.

“However, we realize that we can’t do that [now] because of the circumstances. We have to watch it a little closer to make sure nothing like Monday night occurs again.”

*

The committee that selects the U.S. Olympic baseball team coach has delayed announcing its decision until next week, but former Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda is expected to be offered the job.

Lasorda is eager to accept.

“I still haven’t heard anything, but they [committee members] know how much serving my country means to me,” he said. “They have to decide who they want, but I’d absolutely love to do it.”

TONIGHT DODGERS’ CARLOS PEREZ

(2-1, 4.62 ERA)

vs.

BRAVES’ GREG MADDUX

(4-0, 2.49 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 7

TV--Fox Sports Net 2. Radio--KXTA (1150),

KWKW (1330).

* Update--Perez has pitched well in his last two outings. He gave up two runs in five innings April 23 during an 11-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds, and two runs in six innings during last Friday’s 5-3 victory over the Florida Marlins in which he got a no-decision. Maddux is Maddux. In his career, he is 9-3 with a 2.71 ERA against the Dodgers.