Gagne Gets Another Chance

With $55-million starter Darren Dreifort lost for at least a year, the Dodgers will bring back erratic Eric Gagne from triple-A Las Vegas today to take his spot in the rotation.

In what will be the right-hander’s first outing for the Dodgers since June 11, Gagne, 25, will start tonight against the Giants. He will be optioned back to Las Vegas after the game to make room on the roster for reliever Mike Fetters.

“The main thing that we are looking for is for him to be as consistent as he possibly can be for us,” Manager Jim Tracy said. “I want to see him be aggressive early in the count throwing strikes, not falling behind guys . . . keep us in the game.

“Especially where we’re at right now offensively, give us a chance to win. That’s all I ask.”

Gagne beat the since-retired Ramon Martinez in spring training for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, but he struggled and, after being demoted to the bullpen, was shipped to Las Vegas on June 12 with a 1-4 record and a 5.88 earned-run average.

He apparently righted himself in Las Vegas, though, winning all three of his decisions with a 1.74 ERA.

The Dodgers will probably put infielder Tim Bogar (jammed right foot) on the disabled list to make room for Gagne.

The Dodgers are paying a combined $27.1 million to five players who won’t play for them again this year--the injured duo of Dreifort ($11 million) and Andy Ashby ($6 million), and the released trio of Carlos Perez ($7.5 million), Gregg Olson ($1.75 million) and F.P. Santangelo ($850,000).

By comparison, the first-place Minnesota Twins’ opening day payroll was $24.35 million.

The sense of helplessness experienced by Fetters since he has been on the disabled list has been tempered by the Dodgers’ resurgent play.

Fetters, 36, is eligible to come off the disabled list Thursday.

“I’m anxious, I’m ready and I don’t know what to do with myself,” said Fetters, who went on the disabled list June 24 because of a sore neck. “But they’re playing so good I don’t have to hurry. I’m sure at some point they might need my services but right now things are going great.

“I don’t want to go out there and ruin it.”

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

ERIC GAGNE

(1-4, 5.88 ERA)

vs.

GIANTS’

KIRK RUETER

(8-6, 5.03 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 6

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

Update--Gagne has already faced the Giants twice this season, going 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA. The left-handed Rueter, on a four-game winning streak, beat the Dodgers, 8-3, at Chavez Ravine April 8 but gave up five runs in four innings of the Dodgers’ 10-1 win April 19.