DODGERS NOTEBOOK: RELIEF OUTINGS POSSIBLE FOR BROWN.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

Dodgers ace Kevin Brown might pitch in relief during the Dodgers' upcoming six-game road trip and could return to the starting rotation when the club begins a six-game homestand Aug. 28.

Brown completed the first phase of his throwing program without any difficulties, throwing off a flat surface five times in six days. He'll travel to Florida and Atlanta to begin bullpen sessions.

The tentative schedule for the bullpens are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, but that could be altered given his accelerated progress. He's been out since tearing the flexor muscle in his right elbow July 15, and the question was posed to pitching coach Jim Colborn if Brown could appear in relief in Atlanta next weekend?

``I think it might be possible,'' said Colborn, who added it was likely Brown would start the next homestand.

Brown impressed Colborn during his latest side work, which came before Sunday's game against the Mets.

``He's supposed to be swimming the 100 meters, and (Sunday) he not only jumped in the water and got wet, he actually pushed off the edge and did some strokes toward the other end,'' Colborn said. ``The first 'pen is a test period where you have to see how that test period was. The next 'pen is a beginning effort to build stamina, so you have to let that take and evaluate it. The third one is ... you make sure the stamina you build is real.''

There were early discussions about Brown making a rehab start before being activated, but those plans seem to be on hold. When Brown returned after a 25-day absence in June, he made one relief appearance before returning to the starting rotation two days later.

``A lot of reasons for rehab have to do with how good of a practice player they are, and he's a pretty good practice player,'' Colborn said. ``He can approximate pretty well.''

Just because Brown's return appears imminent, though, surgery in the offseason to repair the flexor muscle has not been ruled out. Team physician Dr. Frank Jobe said such a determination would be made after the season, and it is contingent on how Brown feels.

But Brown returning before the elbow heals is another issue. Can Brown make the elbow injury worse by pitching?

``He can, but knowing a little bit about physiology and the time it takes to heal, you have to choose a time to let him try (to pitch),'' Jobe said. ``So far, he hasn't had any problems with it.''

--Sheffield's tests delayed: Dodgers left fielder Gary Sheffield went 7 for 12 with three homers and nine RBI in three games after a hospital visit after fainting in his Bel Air home. It has demonstrated to the Dodgers all appears fine, and Sheffield has delayed further tests, Dodgers spokesman John Olguin said. A first round of tests to determine the cause of fainting was inconclusive.

Sheffield will be with the Dodgers on their six-game road trip, which begins Tuesday in Florida and will undergo another battery of tests when the club returns home.

--Orosco to DL: Situational lefty Jesse Orosco, who has allowed one run and one hit in his last five outings, was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a back sprain. The move is retroactive to last Monday, making Orosco eligible to return Aug. 28.

It means lefty Terry Mulholland will move into the situational lefty role and the club has recalled lefty Jeff Williams from Triple-A Las Vegas. Williams, who is 2-1 with a 5.16 ERA with the Dodgers in 12 games this season, will join the team Tuesday in Florida. He was 2-1 with a 1.88 ERA in four starts since returning to Las Vegas.

--Odds and ends: Right-hander Luke Prokopec's bullpen sessions have been fine. The blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand is nearly healed and the club expects him to start Saturday in Atlanta. ... The Mets' Mike Piazza's seventh-inning homer was the 299th of his career as a catcher, tying him for fifth all-time with former Mets catcher Gary Carter. ... Dodgers third baseman Adrian Beltre twisted his ankle on a grounder in the fifth inning, had it taped and hobbled through the game. He said it shouldn't be a long-term problem.

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Kevin Brown could pitch in relief situations during the Dodgers' seven-game road trip.

Jill Connelly/Staff Photographer