Jordan Still Sidelined by Side Injury

What was originally diagnosed as a lower back strain for left fielder Brian Jordan was actually a strain of the abdominal or oblique area on his left side, an injury suffered Monday night against the New York Mets.

Jordan underwent a precautionary MRI test Friday, and the results showed no tears or major abnormalities, but he sat out his fourth consecutive game Friday night and will likely sit out tonight’s game against the Expos, as well.

“You miss games, you get frustrated,” Jordan said. “The back is not that bad. It’s my side, and that was referring pain to my back.”

Manager Jim Tracy said the team has not considered putting Jordan on the 15-day disabled list, but the longer the Dodgers are short a position player, the more likely Jordan will go on the DL.

Though Jordan is still stiff and sore, he has been feeling a little better every day. He was scheduled to take a few swings and hit some off a tee Friday, and he is eager to return.

“In my mind, I can play with a broken arm,” he said. “I’m not saying that’s smart, but the bottom line is I’ve got to wait on [the medical staff].”

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Right fielder Shawn Green is in an 0-for-15 slump, going five games without hitting a ball out of the infield and extending his string of at-bats without a home run to 86. He went 0 for 3 Friday.

Though Green’s average has dipped to .230 and he has more strikeouts (39) than hits (35), Tracy said he has given no thought to benching him for a game or two or dropping him from the third spot in the order.

“He’s going to be OK, he’s going to hit,” Tracy said before the game. “He’s been searching, no doubt about it, but he’s well surrounded in the lineup, and we have to keep him there in order to get him started. He’s not to the point where he’s so distraught he’s saying, ‘Get me away from it.’ It’s a mechanical thing. He’ll figure it out.”

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First baseman Eric Karros took the field for batting practice in his usual blue warmup jersey and was greeted by an entire team--Dodger players and coaches--wearing T-shirt replicas of Karros’ No. 23 game jersey, which were given to fans Friday night.

“It was a good prank,” Karros said. “I don’t know who was responsible, but someone will pay.”

The Dodgers wore the Karros T-shirts for the entire batting-practice session.

Would Gary Sheffield have taken part in such a display of solidarity last season? “Oooh,” Karros said, refusing to touch that topic.

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Reliever Terry Mulholland received a cortisone shot in his back Thursday and has made little progress in his recovery from lower-back spasms. The left-hander will not be ready to return when he is eligible to come off the disabled list Sunday.... Before Friday’s game, Dodger pinch-hitters had combined for a .276 average (16 for 58), the third-highest mark in the league. They ranked first in doubles (five), second in hits and fourth in RBIs (seven).

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

ODALIS PEREZ

(4-1, 1.75 ERA)

vs.

EXPOS’

CARL PAVANO

(2-5, 6.14 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 7 p.m.

TV--Channel 13. Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

Update--Dodger shortstop Cesar Izturis, whose average slipped from .270 Sunday to .253 Wednesday and did not start Thursday, was dropped from the second to eighth spot Friday night. Tracy said it wasn’t so much a demotion as it was a chance to keep Adrian Beltre, who had three hits in the second spot Thursday, at the top of the order. Perez has given the Dodgers seven consecutive quality starts and has limited opponents to a National League-low .176 average. Pavano gave up eight runs in three innings of his only start against the Dodgers last season, his first game back from elbow surgery.