Slumping Karros to See Specialist About Back

Back specialist Robert Watkins is scheduled to examine injured first baseman Eric Karros today in Los Angeles.

The Dodgers want Karros to be evaluated by Watkins to determine the extent of an injury that sidelined him for the last two games of a nine-game, 10-day trip.

Karros has been slowed since spring training because of what has been diagnosed as a strained back.

“We’re going to see exactly where we’re at with this back situation,” Manager Jim Tracy said before Wednesday’s 6-4 victory over the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. “Obviously, we’ll know more after he makes that appointment.”

Karros could not bat in a key situation in Monday’s 6-3 loss to Colorado. After informing Tracy of his pain, Karros was removed for a pinch-hitter.

Physical therapist Pat Screnar said the injury has hampered Karros at the plate. Karros is batting .232 with five home runs and 24 runs batted in.

“He’s still stiff, that’s why we need to get a definite barometer of where he’s at,” Tracy said. “I’m not a doctor, but Dr. Robert Watkins is renowned in this type of stuff.

“That’s obviously why we wanted him to look into this, so we can rule out [scenarios]. You just have to see what it is and have the medical people tell us exactly where it’s at.”

Shawn Green broke out of a slump with three hits, his ninth and 10th homers, four runs batted in and three runs Saturday in a 10-2 victory over the New York Mets.

He had batted .174 (eight for 46) with two homers and seven RBIs in his previous 14 games, and the Dodgers hoped their $84-million right fielder had found a groove.

However, Green was only one for 10 with no homers or RBIs in the three-game series at the majors’ top launching pad.

Green is batting .259 with 10 homers and a team-leading 31 RBIs, but the cleanup hitter has not provided enough protection for No. 3 batter Gary Sheffield.

Teams have pitched around Sheffield, who scouts said is the Dodgers’ only dominant clutch hitter, to face Green.

With runners in scoring position, though, Green is batting .304 with four homers and 21 RBIs.

“There’s no getting around the fact that we need Shawn to come around,” Tracy said. “I mean, Shawn is a big part of this ballclub. I don’t think I’m saying anything you guys aren’t aware of.

“He’s a big cog in the wheel as far as our offensive situation is concerned. You know what type of offense he’s capable of. He’s got to get going.”

Outfielder Marquis Grissom has provided a spark off the bench.

The versatile 12-year veteran is batting .275 and has eight homers--in only 102 at-bats.

“He’s really an everyday player,” Sheffield said of Grissom. “A lot of people label you a certain way, but that doesn’t mean it’s true. He’s been starting his whole career, he’s not a bench player, he just accepted the situation.

“This is the big leagues and performance is everything. If you perform, you should play. Everyone notices what he’s been doing. He’s been picking us up big time when he’s in there. It’s one of those things when he comes to the plate, you assume something good is going to happen.”

Reliever Giovanni Carrara, who walked two in two-thirds of an inning Wednesday, has not given up a hit in 7 2/3 innings.

Only three of the 26 batters Carrara has faced have reached base on the walks and an error.

Andy Ashby (right elbow strain) hopes to throw on a mound this weekend.