Chances Are Limited for Reboulet

There are reserve players, and then there is Jeff Reboulet, the Dodger infielder who seems to play only when the fuel light is illuminated and the gas gauge is well below empty.

Before Monday, Reboulet had a team-low 12 at-bats, which raises the question: With the Dodger offense struggling, the bench contributing little, Alex Cora available to back up shortstop and second, and Reboulet seeing minimal action, isn’t there a player at triple-A Las Vegas who might offer more than Reboulet is contributing?

The numbers would indicate as much. Mike Kinkade, who can catch, play outfield and first base, is batting .382 with six homers and 26 runs batted in, and catcher Todd Greene is batting .339 with 10 homers and 35 RBIs. Both have significant big league experience.

Front-office executives are monitoring the two players, but no roster moves appear imminent. Reboulet, meanwhile, will try to stay sharp, which isn’t easy when you’ve had five at-bats since April 14.

“I think I’ve gone through a couple of slumps already in batting practice,” said Reboulet, who hit .266 with 22 RBIs in 94 games for the Dodgers last season. “It’s a constant battle to keep your timing. I’m a situational guy, and there haven’t been many situations for me.”

Reboulet, 38, didn’t play for nine consecutive games before last Tuesday, when he led off the sixth inning in Atlanta with a pinch-hit double.

“I put him in dry ice for two weeks, and he leads off with a double against Tom Glavine,” Manager Jim Tracy said. “He hasn’t had a lot of opportunities, but he understands what’s going on here, and he’s handled it like the absolute pro he is.”

Reboulet rewarded Tracy on Monday, getting a single in the 13th inning to score Eric Karros in a 3-2 victory over the Mets.

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Met first baseman Mo Vaughn, acquired from the Angels for pitcher Kevin Appier in December, is off to a slow start, batting .247 with two homers and 11 RBIs in 23 games, his season shortened by two weeks after he went on the disabled list April 6 because of a broken bone in his right hand.

“I’m getting myself out, fouling balls back, swinging through some balls that I hit real well when I’m right,” said Vaughn, who missed the 2001 season because of a ruptured biceps tendon in his left elbow. “But the year off hasn’t made a difference. I’ve hit third all my career, so no one is giving me any cookies. I just have to stay positive and know that I’m going to do the job.”

Vaughn’s struggles mirror those of the Mets, who were supposed to mash the ball this season but entered Monday night’s game ranked 11th in the National League in batting (.241), 10th in runs (154), 12th in home runs (31) and first in errors (40).

“We’ve done some things I didn’t think we’d do, and some of the mental mistakes are surprising, considering all the veterans on this team,” Vaughn said. “We have a lot of talent. Does that mean we’re going to win? No. Do we have to focus more? Yes. We’ve shown signs we can be a great team, but how consistent we are will determine how well we’ll do.”

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

ANDY ASHBY

(2-3, 3.77 ERA)

VS.

METS’

PEDRO ASTACIO

(5-2, 2.94 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 7

TV--Fox Sports Net 2.

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

Update--Dodger center fielder Dave Roberts suffered a mild strain of his right quadriceps Sunday at Florida, but the injury is not as serious as the quadriceps strain that sidelined him for five days in spring training. Roberts did not start Monday night, but he believes he could play tonight. Right fielder Shawn Green (left wrist), catcher Paul Lo Duca (left wrist) and second baseman Mark Grudzielanek (right hand) are also nursing minor injuries.