DODGERS NOTEBOOK : MARTINEZ WILL MAKE MINI-START.

Ramon Martinez, the ace of the Dodgers' staff, will start today's game against the San Diego Padres, but he likely won't pitch more than two or three innings.

Starters Pedro Astacio and Tom Candiotti, along with closer Todd Worrell, also could pitch an inning or two as the Dodgers tune up for the National League playoffs in the game that will decide the division title.

Martinez said he could probably pitch again Wednesday, though not on Tuesday. If the Dodgers defeat the Padres today, they will open the playoffs Tuesday in St. Louis. If not, they play the Atlanta Braves Wednesday at Dodger Stadium.

Add spring training scenarios: Catcher Mike Piazza, whose batting average has fallen to .337 and is out of contention for the batting title, said he ``feels like I've been through the wringer,'' and therefore won't catch the entire game.

``I'd probably like to catch Ramon for his start, just to stay in rhythm with him,'' Piazza said. ``If he's going to go three or four, then I'm going to go three or four and shut it down.''

Piazza has three hits in his past 19 at-bats, with six strikeouts.

It's his world: With two out in the seventh inning and Tony Gwynn at third base, Piazza stood and held his mitt to his left, and the crowd cheered. No one wants any part of Ken Caminiti.

The Dodgers intentionally walked him, the last batter Hideo Nomo faced.

Left-hander Scott Radinsky replaced Nomo and struck out Wally Joyner to end the inning. Caminiti had five hits and two RBI and scored three runs in the first two games of the series.

Ace on ice: Joey Hamilton, San Diego's No. 1 starter, has no quarrel with the decision of manager Bruce Bochy to hold him out of a final-day clash with the Dodgers for the NL West title.

Hamilton (15-9), who struck out nine Dodgers in a Padres win at San Diego last weekend, is battling a sore shoulder and would have to work this one on three days' rest - something he hasn't done all season. Also, no one has to explain to Hamilton that playoff games are infinitely more important.

``This will give me a chance to pitch two games in the (divisional) playoffs,'' said the right-hander, who will step aside for erstwhile starter Bob Tewksbury. ``Obviously, that's more important than the division.''

Targeting Tewks: Tewksbury, the 35-year-old right-hander who fell out of the San Diego rotation during last weekend's Dodgers series in San Diego, is 2-6 with a 4.14 ERA for his career against them. In his only appearance against them this year, he earned a victory, delivering a strong performance in a 10-1 San Diego win at Los Angeles on July 16.