Jordan Might Need an MRI on Stiff Back

Left fielder Brian Jordan, who sat out his second consecutive game because of a lower-back problem Saturday night and is doubtful for tonight’s series finale against the Phillies, said he may remain in Los Angeles to undergo an MRI test Monday while the team flies to Montreal to begin a six-game trip.

Though doctors believe Jordan has suffered a muscle strain on his left side, they want to rule out the possibility of a bulging disk, a condition that sidelined Jordan for more than two-thirds of the 1997 season with St. Louis but did not require surgery.

If an MRI test reveals no major abnormalities, Jordan, who did not swing a bat or throw a baseball Saturday, could join the team in time for Tuesday’s game against the Expos.

“I’m locked up on the left side,” said Jordan, whose left knee has bothered him all season and will require surgery this winter. “It’s too early to say whether or not I’ll have to go on the disabled list. I’m taking it day by day. I don’t want to swing [Saturday] and set myself back. If it loosens up, I can start running and throwing.”

*

Pitcher Kevin Brown felt no ill effects from Friday night’s rehabilitation start for triple-A Las Vegas, and the right-hander, who underwent surgery for a herniated disk on June 11, will be activated this week.

But Manager Jim Tracy said he will not make a final decision about Brown’s return date--or about whose spot, either Omar Daal or Kazuhisa Ishii, he takes in the rotation--until Brown throws a bullpen session today.

“I would say, as of now, I don’t know what else he would accomplish with another rehab start,” Tracy said. “I won’t completely rule it out, but he threw 86 pitches [Friday night], he’s extended, and pitch count is not an issue. To send him out [to triple-A] again wouldn’t make much sense.”

Brown gave up one run and five hits in six innings at Edmonton on Friday night, striking out five, walking one and retiring the first 11 batters.

*

The Dodger bullpen was short-handed Saturday night because left-hander Jesse Orosco, who has given up one earned run and five hits and struck out 10 in nine innings of his last 16 appearances, was not available because of stiffness in his back. Orosco, 45, sat out two weeks in May because of a strained rib-cage muscle.... There were numerous casualties in the annual Hollywood Stars game, which preceded Saturday night’s Dodgers-Phillies game. Tony Danza took a baseball in the forehead, suffering a scrape, but was able to sing the national anthem, and Billy Crystal strained his back. “They kicked me out of the training room,” Jordan said of the celebrities.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ ODALIS PEREZ

(10-8, 3.16 ERA)

vs.

PHILLIES’ RANDY WOLF

(7-7, 3.81 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 5

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

Update--Though he has given up three earned runs or less in four of his last five starts, Perez is still looking for his first victory since July 5. Wolf, a left-hander, has a 2.34 ERA over his last six starts but has only three wins in that span. The Dodgers are 18-8 against left-handed starters this season, including Thursday night’s 10-5 win over Pittsburgh, in which they pounded Jimmy Anderson for six runs and eight hits in six innings.

Tickets--(323) 224-1448.