DODGERS NOTEBOOK: HUNDLEY MAKING GOOD PROGRESS.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

Todd Hundley's rehabilitation is going better than expected and that means he could be back in the lineup soon.

When asked if he thought he'd be back next month, Hundley said: ``The way I feel today, I feel I could play tonight.

``But that's the catch. That's where the false hope is. I feel great but you can't overdo it. That's a gray area. You can start swinging and feel good but it could flare up on you. I want to make sure I'm ready before I start hacking away.''

Hundley, who had back surgery in May, is almost ready to start running and throwing. He's been doing twisting motions with his upper body but he hasn't swung yet. That shouldn't be far away.

``Obviously we're progressing,'' Dodgers physical therapist Pat Screnar said. ``He's getting close to the strength level he needs to get out there and do some things on the field, running, throwing and hitting off a tee. He knows what his progress has to be and he's getting close. He's been working extremely hard.''

Hundley, who hit .200 with eight RBI before he went on the disabled list May 4, said he's doing a lot of situps and back exercises and is waiting for the green light to start swinging.

``I've been surprised at how good I've felt and how far it's come,'' Hundley said.

--Jaw trouble: Ron Coomer - who has temporomandibular joint (TMJ) - went to see specialist Glen Clark at UCLA Medical Center on Wednesday and was fitted for a mouthpiece. Now that he's free of headaches and knows what the problems and remedy is, he could come off the disabled list soon, although he's not scheduled to be on the nine-game road trip, which starts at Arizona on Friday.

``It probably came from grinding my teeth all the time and I wasn't aware of it,'' Coomer said.

Coomer also boxed until he was 13, which could account for some of his jaw problems.

The mouthpiece, which Coomer will wear during batting practice and at home, is expected to arrive by Monday. The Dodgers will determine Coomer's status after that.

``I was really happy just to get rid of the headaches,'' Coomer said. ``It was a relief. That's the happiest part.''

--Southpaw twist: With newly acquired Jeromy Burnitz hitting so well - he's batting .333 with two home runs and six RBI - the question is whether he'll be batting cleanup any time soon. But with Shawn Green batting third, that would be at least two left-handers in a row depending on the order. That's not something Dodgers manager Jim Tracy envisions.

``I'm not going to bunch that many lefties together, especially when you have bullpens that have two or three lefties,'' Tracy said. ``That's not a really good way to set up your lineup.''

Burnitz is batting fifth in the order.

--Injury report: Fred McGriff increased his workload Wednesday, Tracy said. He could be headed for a rehabilitation stint soon. ... Center fielder Dave Roberts was 1 for 5 with one run in his rehabilitation assignment in rookie-league Ogden (Utah) on Wednesday.

--News and notes: Former Dodgers pitcher Kevin Gross - who threw a no-hitter against the San Francisco Giants in 1992 - visited the clubhouse Wednesday. He is the pitching coach at Claremont High and has coached Tracy's three sons.

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- Jill Painter