Playing ‘Who’s on Third?’

In between Ron Cey and Adrian Beltre, the Dodgers never started the same third baseman on opening day in three consecutive seasons. Where have you gone, German Rivera and Mike Blowers?

The Dodgers might not need two decades to replace Beltre, but a revolving door is spinning madly at the position right now. They have used five starters at third base this season, with Antonio Perez expected to be the sixth when he returns next week from a minor league rehabilitation assignment.

“It’s a little bit uncomfortable right now,” Manager Jim Tracy said.

Jose Valentin, the intended starter, is out with a knee injury, perhaps until August. The Dodgers plan to evaluate Perez there and evaluate trade possibilities too.

But the offense has taken a huge hit. Tracy said that became glaringly apparent when he gave Jeff Kent a day off in St. Louis on Thursday. The Dodgers fielded a lineup with Oscar Robles and Mike Edwards.

“The Cardinals lose Scott Rolen and plug in John Mabry, but you’re still dealing with Albert Pujols, Larry Walker, Jim Edmonds, Reggie Sanders and Mark Grudzielanek,” Tracy said. “Quite a difference.”

The Dodgers’ third basemen entered play Friday hitting .208 with two home runs, both by Valentin.

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Closer Eric Gagne will be activated from the disabled list today, Tracy said. Because Gagne pitched two innings in his final rehabilitation outing on Thursday and would have been unavailable Friday, the Dodgers would have activated him had he been willing to serve his two-game suspension Friday and Saturday. Gagne declined to waive his appeal.

“He has a right to do that,” Tracy said. “It’s his business.”

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First baseman Hee-Seop Choi, who hit .500 on the seven-game trip, nonetheless returned to the bench Friday, with the Dodgers facing a left-handed starter, Horacio Ramirez. Said Tracy: “If you give him too many at-bats against left-handed pitching, are you thwarting what he’s doing against right-handed pitching?” ... Outfielder Jayson Werth, two for 17 in his rehabilitation assignment at Las Vegas, has sat out the last two games there because of recurrent soreness in the left wrist he broke 10 weeks ago.