DODGERS NOTEBOOK: WERTH WORKS HIS WAY BACK.

Byline: Tony Jackson  Staff Writer

PHOENIX - The Dodgers activated outfielder Jayson Werth from the 15-day disabled list Friday, almost two months after he made his only appearance of the season on opening day.

Werth, sidelined with a strained oblique muscle, spent the previous 19 days on a minor-league rehabilitation assignment with the Dodgers' Triple-A Las Vegas affiliate.

With the Dodgers facing Arizona left-hander Casey Fossum, Werth started in left field as part of a mostly right-handed-hitting lineup.

Werth batted .412 in 14 games with the 51s.

``I got locked in probably the last 10 days I was there,'' he said. ``I capped it off (Wednesday) by going 4 for 6 with three home runs, and I hit line drives the other times I came up.

``The main thing is I got to play regularly instead of sitting around for two or three weeks and really not doing anything. There's no substitute for playing every day.''

To make room for Werth, the Dodgers optioned right-hander Edwin Jackson to Las Vegas, but that move was expected. Jackson was called up to make just one start, and he pitched well enough Wednesday night against Milwaukee to get the win in his only major-league appearance this season.

The Dodgers will have to make another move Tuesday, when right-hander Hideo Nomo is scheduled to be activated from the 15-day disabled list so he can start that night's game at Toronto.

Nomo (split fingernail) made a rehab start for Las Vegas on Thursday night, throwing 67 pitches in five innings.

Reliever Brian Falkenborg, who still has three minor-league options and has been used only sparingly, is the most likely candidate to be sent out.

The Dodgers can afford to go with only 11 pitchers at least through next week because they are playing interleague games in American League parks. That means the designated hitter will be in use, which in turns means manager Jim Tracy won't have to pinch hit for his pitchers, which in turns means theoretically they should be able to stay in games longer.

Also, in a procedural move, Single-A Columbus pitcher Hong-Chih Kuo cleared waivers and was outrighted off the 40-man roster, creating a second open spot. That could mean the Dodgers are close to adding a player from outside the organization.

--Suspension fallout: Tracy served his one-game suspension Friday night, watching the game from the press level as bench coach Jim Riggleman ran the club.

Center fielder Milton Bradley, who is appealing his four-game suspension for throwing a ball bag onto the field after he was ejected Tuesday night by plate umpire Terry Craft, was in the lineup.

Tracy said the club has not been informed as to when Bradley's appeal will be heard. Once the appeal hearing has taken place and a ruling has been rendered, Bradley must serve whatever is left of the suspension immediately.

--Hundley visits: Dodgers catcher Todd Hundley, who lives nearby, visited the club before the game. Hundley is on the 60-day disabled list after back surgery last November and hip surgery three weeks ago, but he said he still expects to play sometime this season.

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DODGERS at ARIZONA

Tony Jackson