DODGERS NOTEBOOK: WOLF SET TO TEST SHOULDER.

Byline: RICH HAMMOND 

Staff Writer

Randy Wolf knows better than to be confident, considering what he's been through this season.

Wolf's left shoulder, which has kept him out of the Dodgers' rotation since July 3, is pain free, and Wolf will attempt to throw on the side next week, either Tuesday or Wednesday.

A pain-free session would be the first step toward a possible September return, but Wolf said that if he experiences any pain during or after the session, he will stop throwing and his 2007 season will be over.

"My body is telling me that I feel good right now," Wolf said before Friday night's game. "I'll go from there, but a reasonable person can't be certain of what the outcome will be."

Wolf last picked up a ball during a Single-A rehab start three weeks ago, after which he experienced shoulder discomfort and stopped throwing. Wolf has been diagnosed with a shoulder impingement.

Since the failed rehab attempt, Wolf has undergone treatment at the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic, where a specialist studied his shoulder mechanics and made suggestions about how to strengthen the shoulder.

"Mentally, it would be a lot easier if they looked at the MRI and said, 'This is the problem and we'll go fix it,'" Wolf said. "I think the frustrating thing is, if you say, 'OK, you have three months of rehab,' that's one thing, but for me right now it's just dictated by how I feel."

Wolf has a $9 million team option for 2008. He signed a one-year, $8 million contract last winter. In 18 starts for the Dodgers, Wolf has a 9-6 record and a 4.73 ERA.

Banged up: Matt Kemp, who has a bruised right knee, sat out Friday's game and might miss tonight's game as well, but manager Grady Little said the injury won't be a long-term problem.

"He says he can play, but we're going to wait a day or two," Little said.

Kemp, who had five hits in his previous 11 at-bats, was available to pinch-hit Friday, Little said.

Rare start: Mark Sweeney, acquired last week as a pinch-hitting specialist, made his first start for the Dodgers.

Sweeney, with a .263 average and 11 RBIs in 95 at-bats, hit third and played first base.

Sweeney had four hits (all doubles) in 11 at-bats against Colorado this season. Before the trade, Sweeney started 11 games for San Francisco this season but had only five at-bats in the No. 3 hole.

First look: Franklin Morales will start for Colorado tonight and make his major-league debut against the Dodgers. Morales, a 21-year-old left- hander, was promoted to Triple-A Las Vegas less than three weeks ago. He went 2-0 in three starts and allowed seven earned runs in 17 innings.

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