ALL EYES ARE ON KARROS\No damage found in shoulder, but his status is uncertain.

Byline: Tim Brown Daily News Staff Writer

Relieved by the result of Monday morning's MRI exam on Eric Karros' ailing left shoulder, which was found to have no structural damage, the Dodgers must now hope he will be available for Opening Day.

The Dodgers' cleanup hitter will not swing the bat until Thursday, the club's off-day, according to physical therapist Pat Screnar. Neither Karros nor Screnar could predict what Karros' condition might be by Monday, when the Dodgers open the season in Houston.

"Let's just see how we re-evaluate him on Thursday," Screnar said.

Karros, who fought a pulled hamstring for most of the spring, had a handful of exhibition at-bats before being shut down a second time.

"This is not where I want to be at this juncture of spring training, with 10 major-league at-bats under my belt," Karros said.

In the meantime, Karros said he will prepare in all ways except for hitting, even down to standing in the batters' box, without swinging.

"I look at Eric and Eric's going to be ready when it's time," teammate Brett Butler said. "I believe that. That's the kind of player he is. But, if it's something that will take away from this ballclub, then he'd get something done."

Without Karros, Butler said, "The whole structure of the lineup is different."

In that scenario, the likely order has Raul Mondesi hitting third, Mike Piazza fourth and Mike Blowers fifth. It's crucial for the Dodgers to have Karros in the cleanup position, behind Piazza, because Mondesi is such a free swinger it could harm the Dodgers' running game at the top of the lineup.

Asked if the blow of losing Karros for any amount of time would flatten the club's enthusiasm, Butler said, "I don't think so. We have guys who know it's not one guy who carries this club. It's not Mike. It's not Eric."

Ashley returns: In his first at-bat since he strained his hamstring nine days ago, Billy Ashley hit a two-strike pitch from Pete Harnisch over the center-field fence. The two-run shot was his second hit of the spring, in 22 at-bats, and came with Dave Hansen on first base.

Dreifort, Gorecki disabled: The Dodgers placed pitchers Darren Dreifort and Rick Gorecki on the 15-day disabled list Monday.

Recovering from "Tommy John" surgery on his right elbow, Dreifort will stay behind when the rest of the club breaks camp on Wednesday and returns to Los Angeles for the Freeway Series. He made progress Monday, when he threw a 50-pitch simulated game to hitters.

"I was kind of all over the place," Dreifort said, "but that's just from being the first time I've seen (hitters) in a year and a half."

Dreifort threw fastballs and changeups, but no breaking balls. He did not recover well after throwing curveballs earlier in camp.

Gorecki had shoulder surgery in December.

A Rad inning: Left-hander Scott Radinsky, who was so impressive early in spring that his place on the club was all but guaranteed without facing an opposing hitter, pitched one perfect inning against the Mets. He had two strikeouts.

Radinsky had tendinitis in his left middle finger.

Left-hander Billy Brewer followed Radinsky and pitched a scoreless eighth inning. He also had two strikeouts.

"I hadn't had any problems the last three or four times I threw," Radinsky said. "I was a little worried about controlling it, but I decided to just let it go."

After the game, Radinsky and outfielder Milt Thompson were added to the 40-man roster. They will be on the Opening Day roster.