Bogar Reacquainting Himself

Tim Bogar, on the disabled list since April 4 because of a strained right hamstring, will make the six-game trip to Cincinnati and Chicago with the Dodgers but is not expected to be activated any time soon.

Still, being on the road with the club will be a therapeutic experience for the infielder, who made the team as a non-roster invitee to spring training.

Bogar, 34, suffered the hamstring injury in the second game of the season. Playing shortstop, he chased a fly ball down the third-base line before diving onto the synthetic track surrounding the field.

“Obviously it’s frustrating because I haven’t been able to get healthy and help the team,” said Bogar, who signed a minor-league contract with the Dodgers on Jan. 17. “Missing that first trip made me feel like I really wasn’t a part of anything.”

Before going on the disabled list, Bogar was hitless in two at-bats with a walk.

Bogar recently concluded a rehabilitation assignment at triple-A Las Vegas, where he went three for nine with a double in three games. He returned to the Dodgers on Saturday but still has lingering tightness in the leg.

“I’ve been trying to get the guys to realize I’m around and a part of the team,” Bogar said with a smile. “[Making the trip] will be a boost for my morale.”

*

At 15-10, the Dodgers have their best opening 25-game record since 1988, when they started 17-8 en route to winning the World Series. That also was the last time the Dodgers won a playoff game.

The Dodgers began the 1990, 1997, 1999 and 2000 seasons 14-11.

ON DECK

* Opponent--Cincinnati Reds, three games.

* Site--Cinergy Field.

* Today--4 p.m. PDT.

* TV--Fox Sports Net 2 all three games.

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

* Records--Dodgers 15-10, Reds 14-10.

* 2000 record vs. Reds--5-4.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

ERIC GAGNE

(1-1, 4.80 ERA)

vs.

REDS’

OSVALDO FERNANDEZ

(4-1, 5.27 ERA)

* Update--The Dodgers outscored the Reds, 36-7, in a three-game sweep at Cinergy Field last year, the only time the teams played in Cincinnati in 2000. In three career games against the Reds, all last year, Gagne is 0-1 with a 4.11 earned-run average. Fernandez is 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in four appearances against the Dodgers. When Fernandez beat the Dodgers, 3-1, May 23 at Dodger Stadium, it was the Cuban defector’s first win since April 27, 1997. He sat out the 1998 and 1999 seasons because of two surgeries on his right (throwing) elbow.

* Wednesday, 4 p.m.--Kevin Brown (3-1, 1.03 ERA) vs. Pete Harnisch (1-2, 6.04 ERA).

* Thursday, 4 p.m.--Luke Prokopec (2-0, 2.61 ERA) vs. Chris Reitsma (2-1, 3.00 ERA).