McDowell Might Go on Disabled List

Cleveland Indian pitcher Jack McDowell, scheduled to pitch in Saturday’s exhibition game against the Chicago Cubs, might start the season on the disabled list.

McDowell, scratched from his last start of the spring with a strained abdominal muscle, stayed in Florida and is to pitch in a game Monday. If he’s OK, McDowell will join the Indians and start the third game of the season Thursday at Anaheim. If not, McDowell could be put on the DL for the second year in a row.

“We’re covering our bases so we don’t get caught short,� Manager Mike Hargrove said.

Bartolo Colon replaced McDowell as the starter in Saturday, giving up one run on three hits in five innings with one walk and five strikeouts.

Colon, 21, is the likely choice to join the rotation if McDowell goes on the DL.

*

Texas Ranger first baseman Will Clark sustained a small break in the third finger of his left hand when he tripped over a bullpen mound and might not start Tuesday’s season opener against Milwaukee.

Clark experienced stiffness and a sprained left wrist after the incident in the first inning of Friday’s 6-5 loss to the triple-A Oklahoma City 89ers.

Texas Manager Johnny Oates said that Clark will be evaluated over the next couple of days.

Another injured Ranger, outfielder Rusty Greer, was still experiencing soreness in the back of his shoulder from an injury sustained Tuesday when he crashed into a fence while chasing a foul ball at Sarasota, Fla.

*

Mark Lewis, scheduled to be the starting third baseman for the San Francisco Giants, was put on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Friday because of bone chips in his right elbow.

Lewis is scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery today to remove the chips.

*

Terry Francona had to do the most difficult thing in his brief tenure as the Phillie Manager: He told Darren Daulton he can’t be an everyday player for the team he’s been with for 13 seasons.

After meeting with Daulton and Rico Brogna, Francona announced Brogna will be the first baseman when Philadelphia opens the regular season Tuesday against the Dodgers.

“That cost me about four hours of sleep last night,� Francona said. “I’m not so sure the easy move wouldn’t be to start Darren. He’s so popular in Philadelphia. But I honestly believe we have a better chance to win with Rico.�

Daulton accepted the decision graciously, but he also said he would like to be traded to a team that could play him every day.

“It doesn’t matter whether or not I agree with the decision,� Daulton said.

“I think I can still play the game and produce. If there’s a chance for me to be moved, we’ll pursue that.�

*

NL President Len Coleman said he may wait until Monday to decide whether St. Louis Cardinal pitcher T.J. Mathews should serve a six-game suspension.

Mathews was suspended after hitting Cincinnati’s Bret Boone with a pitch 2 1/2 weeks ago and saying he intended to hit Boone. Mathews appealed the suspension during a 50-minute hearing with Coleman on Friday at St. Petersburg, Fla.

*

Mark McGwire, who sat out seven games because of back problems, was back in the Oakland Athletics’ lineup for Saturday’s exhibition game against the San Francisco Giants.

Manager Art Howe said McGwire would take grounders today at Oakland to further test his back.