Roberts Pointing for Weekend Return

An MRI test Tuesday revealed a partial tear of an internal rib-cage muscle on Dave Roberts’ right side, but the Dodger leadoff batter’s condition improved so dramatically Monday and Tuesday he now hopes to return by the weekend.

After suffering the injury in his first at-bat Saturday night in San Diego, Roberts said his chances of returning during the regular season “didn’t look good,” though he held out hope of playing in the postseason.

But the inflammation in the area shrunk considerably Monday and Tuesday, and Roberts’ range of motion improved. He expects to begin treadmill exercises and possibly play catch today.

“I’m excited,” said Roberts, who is batting .277 and is tied with Colorado’s Juan Pierre and Florida’s Luis Castillo for the National League lead with 45 stolen bases.

“I’m definitely shooting to come back this weekend, because if we made the playoffs, I think I’d be doing a disservice to the team if I hadn’t played in eight days,” he said. “If I keep improving the way I have the last few days, it’s realistic.”

Dodger trainer Stan Johnston was more cautious in his assessment, saying Roberts would probably miss the rest of the regular season. But the trainer “wouldn’t rule out” a return by this weekend.

If doctors can better pinpoint the area of Roberts’ injury in the next day or two, it’s possible he could receive a cortisone injection to further reduce inflammation.

“It’s pointless to inject into a big area; it’s like putting an eye drop into a bathtub,” Roberts said. “But I’m all in favor of doing anything to get back onto the field.”

*

Right-hander Andy Ashby, still suffering from a blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand, did not pick up a ball Tuesday, but Manager Jim Tracy did not rule out the possibility of Ashby starting Saturday against San Diego.

Giovanni Carrara will start tonight against Colorado, Hideo Nomo will open the Padre series Thursday night, and Omar Daal will pitch Friday.

If Ashby, who has given up 20 runs in 14 1/3 innings of his last four starts and didn’t make it out of the third inning of Friday night’s 8-4 loss to San Diego, does not start Saturday, right-hander Kevin Beirne will.

Tracy considered bringing Odalis Perez back Saturday on three days’ rest, but Perez entered Tuesday night’s game having already thrown a career-high 214 1/3 innings, “and that makes it risky business to consider using him on short rest,” Tracy said.

Perez also had to be shut down for nine days in late July because of fatigue.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

GIOVANNI CARRARA

(6-3, 3.26 ERA)

vs.

ROCKIES’

JASON JENNINGS

(16-8, 4.62 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 7

TV--Fox Sports Net 2. Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

Update--Dodger cleanup batter Shawn Green entered Tuesday night with 11 hits in 34 at-bats over his previous 10 games, but all of the hits were singles. Carrara will be making his first start since Aug. 15, 2001, when the right-hander gave up one run and four hits in six innings of a 13-1 win over Montreal.

Tickets--(323) 224-1448.