DODGERS NOTEBOOK: GREEN GOES TO SIDELINES.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

ATLANTA - For the first time in his Dodgers career, right fielder Shawn Green missed a game because of injury. There's a chance the second one will come today.

Swelling and soreness in his left hand, remnants of being hit by a Tom Glavine fastball Tuesday, kept Green out of the lineup because of his inability to grip a bat with strength and throw a baseball without pain.

Dodgers trainer Stan Johnston said X-rays taken Thursday at Turner Field were negative, but the swelling in Green's hand remained substantial following an afternoon's worth of treatment.

Green categorized his chance of playing today in the series opener against Florida as ``middle of the road.'' Johnston said Green likely broke a blood vessel.

Green was hit in the sixth inning of Tuesday's 16-inning win. Despite extreme swelling in his left hand Wednesday, he started and went 1 for 4. But Green said playing made his injured hand worse, to the point at which he had difficulty gripping and swinging a bat, rendering him unavailable for the series finale against Atlanta.

``It would have to be pretty much of an emergency,'' Green said. ``It's hard to get through the ball. I think we'll give it a couple of days. We got (a lot) of the swelling out. Now, it's just a matter of getting to the point where my range of motion is good. I think I can hold (the bat), but I don't have the strength in (the hand).''

Green has scuffled this season, batting .250 with three home runs and a team-leading 21 RBI. He has also struck out a team-leading 32 times and grounded into a National League-high nine double plays. Dodgers manager Jim Tracy has been peppered with questions lately about giving Green a day off, but Tracy said the decision to sit Green was purely medical and not based on performance.

The durable Green, in his third season with the Dodgers, had his string of consecutive games ended at 415 last Sept. 26 when he sat out in observance of Yom Kippur. Green's been on the disabled list twice in his career but not since 1993.

Third baseman Adrian Beltre is the only Dodger to start all 34 games.

--Credit for trying: With Kevin Brown and Andy Ashby both pitching and showing they are healthy, Omar Daal's agent continues to ask general manager Dan Evans for a trade. And Evans continues to decline.

Peter Greenberg, Daal's agent, recently revisited the trade request, this time telling Evans that Daal's market is likely as high as it can go because of Daal's strong start. Daal, who allowed a run in two innings of relief, is 3-0 with a 1.26 ERA.

``I would think they could get maximum in return for Omar right now,'' Greenberg said. ``A club right now can be confident Omar can go in and pitch six or seven innings or more. I would think some clubs would be willing to give (the Dodgers) prospects. I would think if Omar continued to pitch in the bullpen, his value would lessen.''

The Seattle Mariners and St. Louis Cardinals are two of a handful of teams looking for starting pitching, and several teams called Evans and inquired about Daal. But Evans continues to show patience and resolve and doesn't want to trade Daal because of a lack of organizational depth. Sources said Evans would bend on that philosophy as the All-Star break nears, providing the starting staff remains healthy.

--Odds and ends: Fearing a long night because of weather - the start of the game was delayed 41 minutes - and late-night travel, Dodgers starter Kazuhisa Ishii was sent ahead to Florida. Ishii, who is 6-0, opens a three-game series for the Dodgers tonight. ... With Green out, left fielder Brian Jordan moved back to right field. He played there much of his three seasons with the Braves. ... Reliever Terry Mulholland was unavailable for a second day because of back spasms, which forced Daal to pitch with the Dodgers trailing 5-2 in the seventh. His status for the Florida series is uncertain. ... Catcher Paul Lo Duca went 0 for 3 with a walk and had his hitting streak snapped at 11 games. ...Second baseman Mark Grudzielanek's hitting streak ended at seven games.

DODGERS vs. FLORIDA

Time: 4:05 p.m., Pro PlayerStadium.

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net 2; 1150-AM, 1330-AM (Spanish).

Matchup: Dodgers LH Kazuhisa Ishii (6-0, 2.95 ERA) tries to keep his perfect mark going. Not only is he undefeated, but he's won his first six career starts. He's the first major-leaguer since 1969 to begin his career with wins in his first six starts. Ishii is 4-0 with a 3.75 ERA in four road starts. Marlins RH A.J. Burnett (5-2, 2.54) has won his last three starts. Saturday -- Dodgers RH Kevin Brown (1-3, 4.44 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Julian Tavarez (1-1, 9.82); Sunday -- Dodgers RH Hideo Nomo (2-4, 3.09) vs. Marlins RH Ryan Dempster (1-3, 4.22)

- Brian Dohn

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DODGERS vs. FLORIDA (see text)