Pitching, Timely Hits Doing Job

Shortstop Cesar Izturis began Tuesday night’s game with a .234 average, third baseman Adrian Beltre was batting .240, and regular second baseman Mark Grudzielanek, who did not start because of a mild concussion, was hitting .245.

Over one-third of the Dodger offense--not including the pitcher’s spot--has provided minimal production this season, and of the Dodger regulars, only Shawn Green (.281, 25 homers, 63 runs batted in) is having what might be considered a career year.

Yet, the Dodgers were a whopping 20 games over .500 before the game against Arizona and leading the National League West, a testament to how good their pitching, most notably the rotation and closer Eric Gagne, has been.

Improved performances from the infielders would add some punch to the offense, but Green doesn’t believe the trio needs to morph into Troy Glaus, Alex Rodriguez and Jose Vidro overnight for the Dodgers to reach the World Series.

“It doesn’t take career years from everyone to win; it takes a lineup where hardly anyone is hitting below .260 or .270, like Arizona had last year,” said Green, who returned to the lineup Tuesday night after missing two games because of a jammed left thumb. “There aren’t too many easy outs in our lineup.

“Last year, due to injuries and guys having down years for whatever reason, we didn’t have that balance. That’s why we’re winning so many series this year--because we’re consistent. I think it’s a lot more dangerous than a lineup with one or two boppers. You can pitch around those guys and beat those teams.”

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General Manager Dan Evans, Manager Jim Tracy and Dodger coaches met Tuesday afternoon for an 82-game checkup, sort of a state-of-the-team address that Evans also conducted after the Dodgers’ first 40 games and will do again at the 120-game mark and after the 162-game season.

Among the key subjects: How the Dodgers can strengthen themselves before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. Evans is exploring possible deals to improve the bullpen and the bench, but he won’t make any move he believes will disrupt team chemistry.

“You always look to improve, but at the same time, I’m going to be real careful to do things that make sense in the clubhouse, on the field and for the future,” Evans said. “Part of the reason we’re where we are today is clubhouse chemistry, and I’m not going to do anything to screw that up.”

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Veteran reliever Terry Mulholland said there “has been talk among players” about setting a strike date at Monday’s meeting of the Major League Players Assn. executive board in Chicago, “but right now that’s our business, and some things you just don’t discuss until the time is right.”

Mulholland was scheduled to attend the meeting but changed his mind when union chief Don Fehr told him he would be visiting the West Coast soon after the All-Star break.

“That meeting is going to be huge,” said catcher Paul Lo Duca, the Dodgers’ player representative. “I’m hoping we can resolve something because a lot of fans might not come back for a while [if there’s a strike]. I don’t know what’s going to happen. It’s like a crapshoot.”

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Darren Dreifort, rehabilitating his surgically repaired elbow, threw in the bullpen Tuesday and is scheduled to throw another live batting-practice session Friday in St. Louis.... The Dodgers signed Georgia high school pitcher Jonathan Broxton, a second-round pick in the June draft, to a $685,000 bonus and have now reached agreement with their top 10 selections in the draft.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

ANDY ASHBY

(7-6, 3.36 ERA)

vs.

DIAMONDBACKS’

MIGUEL BATISTA

(4-5, 5.03 ERA)

Bank One Ballpark, Phoenix, 7 p.m.

TV--Fox Sports Net 2.

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

Update--Grudzielanek, who was kneed in the back of the head in a collision with right fielder Brian Jordan on Sunday in Anaheim, did not start for the second consecutive game Tuesday night, but his headaches have dissipated, so there’s a good chance he’ll return to the lineup tonight. Ashby has been roughed up in his last two starts, giving up 10 earned runs and 14 hits, including four homers, in 11 2/3 innings against the Red Sox and Angels.