Grissom’s Hitting Could Create a Lineup Dilemma

Reserve outfielder Marquis Grissom’s recent hot streak has enabled left fielder Brian Jordan to be cautious in his return from a lower-back injury. Jordan played Friday night after a six-game absence but did not start Saturday night because his back and hamstrings were a little tight.

“Normally I’d try to rush back and just hurt myself worse,” Jordan said. “When a guy is performing well and you’re winning it gives you a chance to be smart.”

But what about when Jordan is 100%?

“Then he’s going to have to figure something out,” Jordan said of Manager Jim Tracy, “because I want to play.”

Tracy, like many managers, considers this a “good” problem, having a reserve like Grissom, who in his last 13 games is batting .409 (18 for 44) with four homers and 12 runs batted in, pushing a starter like Jordan.

But if Grissom, who is batting .293 with 14 homers and 49 RBIs while spending most of the season in a center-field platoon with Dave Roberts, continues to produce, Tracy will face difficult daily lineup decisions.

Does he play Grissom in left and risk alienating Jordan? Does he play Grissom in center and Jordan in left against right-handed starters more often, leaving Roberts, his sparkplug leadoff batter, on the bench? Or does he keep Grissom and Roberts in the platoon that was so successful in the first half?

“The only way to handle it is to do what’s best for the team,” Tracy said. “What gives us the best chance to be playing in October?

As he did Saturday night, when he sat Eric Karros and Tyler Houston against Pedro Astacio because they’ve struggled against the Met right-hander, Tracy will look closer at individual matchups, who’s swinging the hottest bat, who will benefit from a day off.

One move Tracy won’t make is to move right fielder Shawn Green to first and play Grissom, Roberts and Jordan in the outfield.

“I’m not that comfortable with that now, and I don’t think Shawn would be,” Tracy said. “That’s blatantly playing a guy out of position and into a position to fail.”

*

A combination of three games on Montreal’s hard artificial turf and some steamy conditions in Shea Stadium Friday night sent third baseman Adrian Beltre and his tender hamstrings to the bench Saturday night.

“Instead of continuing to push the envelope and risk pulling a hamstring, Stan [Johnston, Dodger trainer] felt we should give him a day off,” Tracy said before the game.

Closer Eric Gagne, who pitched in four consecutive games Tuesday through Friday night, was not available Saturday, Tracy said.

*

Reliever Giovanni Carrara, on the disabled list because of a strain in his right forearm, played long toss Friday and was scheduled to throw in the bullpen Saturday, but didn’t because his forearm felt a little tender.... Pitcher Darren Dreifort, whose rehabilitation from major elbow surgery hit a snag when he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee July 30, is still throwing off flat ground but hasn’t returned to a bullpen mound. “The chances of him pitching this season are not very likely,” Tracy said.

TODAY

DODGERS’

ANDY ASHBY

(8-9, 3.56 ERA)

vs.

METS’

STEVE TRACHSEL

(8-7, 3.61 ERA)

Shea Stadium, 10 a.m. PDT

TV--Channel 13.

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

Update--Kevin Brown felt no ill effects from his two-inning, 51-pitch relief effort Friday, but Tracy held him out Saturday night and said he will not pitch today.