FREEWAY NOTES : HALL'S MARK COULD BE IN BULLPEN.

Byline: Eric Noland Daily News Staff Writer

Only one roster question remains unanswered as the Dodgers complete preparations for Opening Day, and the decision is expected to go down to the wire today.

Manager Bill Russell said it involves a bullpen spot, and Dodgers insiders say it's a choice between two right-handed middle relievers, Antonio Osuna and Darren Hall.

Osuna, a solid and sometimes dominant setup man for Todd Worrell last year, is fighting a dreadful spring slump. He entered Saturday night's Freeway Series game at Anaheim Stadium with a team-worst ERA of 14.14, having given up 14 hits, 11 earned runs and eight walks in seven innings of relief.

Osuna staggered through the eighth inning Friday night at Dodger Stadium, giving up a two-out single and a walk to load the bases, then walking in the game's tying run. On Saturday night, he wobbled through the seventh, giving up a deep drive to right and two singles.

Hall, a journeyman coming off 1996 elbow surgery, has a 1.69 ERA over 10 appearances, with 11 strikeouts in 10-2/3 innings. He was thought to be ticketed for Triple-A when the Dodgers didn't deal Tom Candiotti during the spring, but Osuna has given his prospects fresh life.

Exam scheduled: Angels second baseman Randy Velarde, who strained his right forearm early in spring training while making a throw from the outfield, is set to undergo a magnetic resonance imaging test today to determine the extent of the damage.

Manager Terry Collins says that Velarde, regardless of the outcome of the exam, will open the season on the disabled list, with Luis Alicea replacing him in the lineup.

Clock is ticking: Angels general manager Bill Bavasi said the Jim Abbott situation will be resolved by Monday. Abbott, who has had an abominable spring (1-2, 13.50 ERA, 26 hits in 14-2/3 innings), is under contract for two more years and $5.6 million.

Among the options: a buyout, Abbott's consent to go to Triple-A, retirement.