Encarnacion Gets New Test

The Dodgers are scheduling a second MRI exam on Juan Encarnacion’s left shoulder to determine whether the soreness that continues to bother the right fielder is a result of further deterioration in the area.

An MRI taken in May after Encarnacion injured his shoulder while diving for a fly ball revealed “deterioration in the labrum,” Dodger trainer Stan Johnston said, and Encarnacion sat out four games. The soreness recurred recently, prompting the Dodgers to request a repeat test that could be given as soon as today.

Encarnacion said he felt “much better” Wednesday afternoon before sitting out a fourth consecutive game, but Manager Jim Tracy said the team’s medical staff had not seen much improvement over the last couple of days.

Encarnacion is taking anti-inflammatory medication to combat the discomfort he feels in the back of his shoulder, which he said is unrelated to bone chips he has had in the front of his shoulder since 2001.

Johnston said further deterioration in Encarnacion’s shoulder could require surgery after the season, but Tracy expressed confidence that the outfielder could play through the injury.

“We’ve had situations like this in the past where guys have been able to continually perform knowing that there might be the possibility that something might have to be done at the end of the season,” Tracy said. [Adrian] Beltre is a great example of that right now. He’s doing OK, though.”

Beltre, hobbled by bone spurs in his left ankle for most of the season, was hitting .318 with 22 home runs and 54 runs batted in before the Dodgers played the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium.

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Paul Shuey is bracing himself for the possibility that his right hip, which recently forced the reliever to end his minor league rehabilitation program, could bother him for the rest of his career.

“It’s more of an arthritic condition,” said Shuey, who has not pitched for the Dodgers this season because of the hip and a torn tendon in his right thumb that is no longer an issue. “I think it’s definitely something I’m going to have to deal with for the rest of my life.”

Shuey acknowledged that his latest setback might have been a result of trying to do too much too soon in an attempt to rejoin the major leagues’ best bullpen.

“That’s basically what I think went down,” he said. “I know that I was trying to push it up to two innings just to try to fit in with what’s going on right now with the bullpen. It just may not be able to do that.”

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Dave Roberts expressed optimism that Milton Bradley’s move to deliver the lineup card to home plate before two games last weekend in Anaheim could go a long way toward improving relations between the temperamental outfielder and umpires.

“I think the point he was trying to get across was that it’s nothing personal,” Roberts said of Bradley, who was ejected Friday after flinging his bat in disgust following called third strikes on two occasions. “He’s a competitor, and sometimes the way he reacts, umpires might feel he’s trying to show them up, but I don’t think that’s intentional. He’s just an intense-type guy.”

Bradley apparently hasn’t gotten over at least one run-in with an umpire, though. An overhead photograph of a ball clearly off the plate that was called for a third strike by Ed Rapuano on May 16 against Cincinnati hangs above Bradley’s locker.

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Odalis Perez, recovering from shoulder tendinitis, is scheduled to throw bullpen sessions Friday and Sunday.... Cesar Izturis said he took pride in not hitting into double plays but that it was no big deal that his major league-leading streak of 322 at-bats to begin the season without doing so ended Tuesday against Arizona.... Bradley did not start for a second consecutive game because he has experienced stiffness batting right-handed, which would have been the way the switch-hitter hit against Arizona knuckleballer Steve Sparks. Switch-hitters usually bat from their natural side against knucleballers to generate more power.

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ON DECK

Opponent--Houston Astros, four games.

Site--Dodger Stadium.

TV--Fox Sports Net 2 tonight and Friday, Channel 11 Saturday, Channel 13 Sunday.

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

Records--Dodgers 45-37, Astros 43-41.

2003 record vs. Astros--2-4.

Tonight, 7--Edwin Jackson (1-0, 4.05) vs. Brandon Duckworth (1-1, 7.56).

Friday, 7 p.m.--Jeff Weaver (6-8, 4.26) vs. Andy Pettitte (4-2, 4.37).

Saturday, 1 p.m.--Wilson Alvarez (2-3, 3.77) vs. Roger Clemens (10-2, 2.54).

Sunday, 1 p.m.--Jose Lima (7-3, 4.42) vs. Pete Munro (1-2, 4.45).