Jordan May Land on DL

An MRI test and a bone scan on Brian Jordan’s lower back revealed a small protrusion Monday, a condition that will likely send the Dodger left fielder to the disabled list and, possibly, could require season-ending surgery.

Jordan, who missed two-thirds of the 1997 season because of a bulging disk, will receive a cortisone injection today and will be re-evaluated in Los Angeles, while the Dodgers begin a three-game series in Montreal.

“The doctors think it might be an old injury; that’s why he’s getting the injection,” General Manager Dan Evans said. “They want to see if that alleviates the situation. We’re waiting for answers, but it makes no sense for him to travel now.”

Jordan, who is batting .271 with 13 home runs and 50 RBIs but hasn’t homered since July 6, thought he suffered the injury during an Aug. 5 game in Philadelphia when he jerked backward to avoid a high-and-tight pitch.

He played Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday but aggravated the injury Thursday when he made a diving catch.

*

The name across the front of Eric Gagne’s uniform reads “Dodgers,” but bring up the Montreal Expos and Gagne starts speaking in proprietary tones, as in “we” had the best record in the major leagues in 1994, and 1981 was the only year “we” went to the playoffs.

“They’re always going to be my team,” said Gagne, the Dodger closer who grew up a diehard Expo fan in Montreal. “When I was 15 or 16, I lived five minutes from Olympic Stadium and would go to 30-40 games a year.”

Gagne is such an Expo fan that when he was called up to the big leagues for the first time in 1999, he could barely look Dodger radio broadcaster Rick Monday in the eye. Monday is the former Dodger whose Game 5 home run clinched the 1981 National League championship series victory over Montreal.

“That was my worst memory as an Expos’ fan,” Gagne said. “I was 5 years old at the time. For years, I told [Monday] I hated him.”

*

Manager Jim Tracy has decided not to skip Kazuhisa Ishii or Omar Daal in the rotation this week--Ishii will start Wednesday and Daal will start Thursday against the Expos. That means Brown will likely return Friday night against the New York Mets.

The starts by the struggling Ishii, who has given up 17 earned runs in 12 2/3 innings of his last three starts, and Daal, who has given up 10 earned runs in 26 1/3 innings of his last four starts, will give each pitcher one last chance to convince Tracy he belongs in the rotation.

*

Second baseman Mark Grudzielanek, who suffered a mild strain of the medial collateral ligament in his left knee Sunday night, made considerable progress Monday and is expected to start against Montreal tonight.

ON DECK

Opponent--Montreal Expos, three games.

Site--Olympic Stadium, Montreal.

Today--4 p.m.

TV--None.

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

Records--Dodgers 66-52, Expos 58-59.

Record vs. Expos--3-1.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ ANDY ASHBY

(8-9, 3.56 ERA)

vs.

EXPOS’ TOMO OHKA

(9-6, 3.52 ERA)

Update--Ashby snapped a string of seven consecutive starts in which he failed to record a win with 7 1/3 innings of five-hit shutout ball in a 4-0 win over Pittsburgh Wednesday night. The right-hander has had trouble with Expo right fielder Vladimir Guerrero, who has a .455 career average (10 for 22) against him, and first baseman Anders Galarraga, who has hit .419 (18 for 43) with five homers and 13 RBIs against Ashby.

Wednesday, 4 p.m.--Kazuhisa Ishii (12-7, 4.19) vs. TBA.

Thursday, 4 p.m.--Omar Daal (9-6, 3.95) vs. TBA.