Roberts Better, but Has to Wait

Dave Roberts’ strained right hamstring has taken a dramatic turn for the better, so much so that the Dodger center fielder ran close to full speed “almost effortlessly” Friday and could probably return to the lineup by Monday.

But Roberts was put on the 15-day disabled list May 17 and won’t be eligible to return until June 1, giving him -- and the Dodgers -- nine more days to ponder whether the move to put him on the DL was premature.

“I have no regrets, because when we get him back, we want him to be able to instinctively react and respond -- that’s what makes him the player he is,” Manager Jim Tracy said. “[Not having him] for a few days is not going to hurt us or him. It will give him a chance to play a couple days [in minor league games] and let it all hang out.”

Roberts first hurt his leg April 25 and aggravated it several times in early May. When he went on the disabled list, he said he was reluctant to bunt or steal a base because he knew he could blow out the hamstring.

But the speedy leadoff batter had never injured a hamstring before, and his inexperience in dealing with such an injury may have clouded the decision-making process.

“I thought it was the right move at the time, but I didn’t foresee getting better this quickly,” said Roberts, who will go on a minor league rehabilitation assignment late next week. “Now that I know how to deal with it, I will be better for it. I want to get this thing right, get it behind me and play [injury free] the next four months.”

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Tracy reiterated Friday that he had no intention of using closer Eric Gagne for the fourth day in a row and seventh time in eight days, even though Gagne said he felt good after his normal pregame workout routine Friday.

“If we were playing to win the National League West or this was an extremely important September game, he would be available,” Tracy said. “But in order to put ourselves in a position to be playing those games in August and September, we have to look at May 23, look at what he’s done over the past seven days, step in and say, ‘Not today.’ ”

Gagne, who earned saves in six straight games, striking out 14 in his last six innings, said he’d be mad about the decision “for five or 10 minutes,” but he wasn’t about to fight it. “I understand it’s a long season, that we’re not here for two months, we’re here for six months,” he said. “I want to be in there for every save situation, but if it’s not good for me to be out there four or five days in a row, I shouldn’t be.”

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Utility player Mike Kinkade, who would normally start in left field against a left-hander, was not in Friday’s lineup because of a left hand injury that has bothered him for several weeks.