Gagne Sees Setup in Stars

Chicago Cub Manager Dusty Baker will have no shortage of dominant closers to choose from in next Tuesday’s All-Star game.

In the National League bullpen will be Atlanta’s John Smoltz, (32 saves, 0.99 earned-run average, 52 strikeouts in 45 1/3 innings), the Dodgers’ Eric Gagne (2.09 ERA, 30 saves, 74 strikeouts in 43 innings) and Houston’s Billy Wagner (2.42 ERA, 22 saves, 62 strikeouts in 48 1/3 innings).

So, who gets the ball in the ninth inning with a one-run lead?

“It’ll be Smoltz, I guarantee you,” Gagne said. “You’ve got Smoltz, me, Wagner, [New York Met closer] Armando Benitez ... that’s a pretty good bullpen. I might have to close in the fourth inning. I won’t mind setting up for Smoltz or Wagner; those guys are unbelievable. It would be an honor.”

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Dodger General Manager Dan Evans held a lengthy meeting with reliever Paul Shuey during batting practice Tuesday, but neither Evans nor Shuey said a trade involving the right-hander was imminent.

Shuey, however, is well aware that he could be a bargaining chip. The veteran is under contract through 2004, with salaries of $3.25 million in this season and next season, and he has a limited no-trade clause, which prevents Evans from dealing him to a small number of clubs without his permission.

“We’re in dire straits, and Dan is doing whatever he can to get some hitting,” said Shuey, who entered Tuesday night’s game with a 3-1 record and 1.27 ERA average in 30 appearances. “My name is in trade rumors every year. That means there’s a team out there that wants you.”

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Adrian Beltre is not about to join Dave Roberts, Fred McGriff and Brian Jordan on the disabled list, but the Dodger third baseman has been bothered for several weeks by a sore right knee and left hamstring.

Beltre entered Tuesday’s game with a .214 average, six home runs and 28 runs batted in, and his average hasn’t risen above .220 since April 11.

“As I recall, he had a hamstring last year when he was one of the hottest hitters in the league,” Manager Jim Tracy said, recalling Beltre’s 47-game stretch after the All-Star break when he hit .335 with 11 homers and 36 RBIs. “My trainer tells me he isn’t limited in any way. Is he 100%? No. But if he couldn’t perform, I wouldn’t push the envelope.”

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Pitcher Kevin Brown, who missed Tuesday’s scheduled start because of a lower abdomen strain, played catch in the outfield for the second day in a row and appears to be on track to return Sunday against Colorado.

“The big question is his mobility,” Tracy said. “Can he get off the mound and field his position?”

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Roberts, on the DL since last Wednesday because of a strained right hamstring, began jogging lightly Tuesday, but he won’t rush his recovery. Roberts returned too soon from the same injury on June 1 and was back on the DL a month later.

“The last time I was too aggressive; I didn’t give it enough time to heal,” Roberts said. “I’ve already lost enough time. I want to get it right.”

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Utility player Mike Kinkade, limited to pinch-hitting duties Tuesday night because of a sore right shoulder, will leave the team for a day today to attend his grandmother’s funeral in the state of Washington. Kinkade will rejoin the Dodgers on Thursday in St. Louis.

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ON DECK

Opponent -- St. Louis Cardinals, two games.

Site -- Busch Stadium, St. Louis.

TV -- Fox Sports Net 2 today and Thursday night.

Radio -- KFWB (980), KWKW (1330).

Records--Dodgers 46-42, Cardinals 46-43..

2002 record vs. Cardinals -- 2-4.

Today, 4 p.m. -- Kazuhisa Ishii (7-3, 2.74) vs. Brett Tomko (5-5, 5.63).

Thursday, 5 p.m. -- Odalis Perez (5-7, 4.12) vs. Matt Morris (8-5, 3.99).