DODGERS NOTEBOOK: GUERRERO MIGHT BAT LEFTY ONLY.

Byline: Eric Noland Daily News Staff Writer

Wilton Guerrero has a bright future as a switch hitter. Just not an immediate future.

The Dodgers rookie second baseman was out of the lineup Wednesday, one night after aggravating a left-shoulder injury that bothers him primarily when he bats from the right side.

The Dodgers, faced with the prospect of having to keep Guerrero on the bench against left-handed pitching, are considering asking him to bat left-handed against all pitching.

``Not yet,'' manager Bill Russell said of the prospect of taking the switch out of the switch-hitter. ``We'll see how he comes out of this (latest incident). It flares up from time to time when he bats right-handed. I'm sure it will be addressed at some point.''

Said Guerrero: ``I don't want to bat just left-handed.'' However, when it was explained to him that he likely would only be asked to do it this year (or until his shoulder healed), and not permanently, he said, ``Maybe.''

For now, Russell indicated Guerrero will be held out of the lineup for three games - the two meetings with the Angels and Friday night's date at San Diego against left-hander Danny Jackson.

Another honor: One day after finishing as the top vote-getter for the National League All-Star team, catcher Mike Piazza was named NL Player of the Month for June.

Piazza batted .431 with nine home runs and 25 RBI during the month. He also had eight doubles and compiled a slugging percentage of .752.

It was the third such award of Piazza's career. He was also Player of the Month in August '95 and May '94.

So far . . . pretty good: The first phase of interleague play concludes today, and one Dodgers veteran, relief pitcher Todd Worrell, said he felt the experiment on balance is working out well.

``I definitely think it's worth pursuing, and I think it's worth adjusting the schedule to make it a little more practical,'' Worrell said. ``They just need to take some of the rough edges off.''

Players have complained repeatedly about the two-game interleague series and the grueling travel that has resulted - the Dodgers, for example, played a night game in Oakland on a Friday, flew to Seattle in the middle of the night, and had to take the field for a 1 p.m. start a few hours later.

Three-game series would probably make more sense, even if it meant, for example, the Dodgers playing six games against Oakland one year and skipping the A's the next year.

It also remains to be seen whether the second phase of interleague play, in August and September, will detract from the pennant races.

But Worrell said the players, like the fans, have gotten caught up in the intrigue of the interleague confrontations. I think the enjoyment and the mystery outweighed the two-day travel.''