BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Gross May Get Hershiser’s Next Start

In a move designed to help Kevin Gross as much as Orel Hershiser, the Dodgers are tentatively scheduled to remove Hershiser from his scheduled start Friday at Pittsburgh and replace him with Gross.

Hershiser would start Tuesday in Cincinnati, giving him 15 days between starts and nine days since he missed his last start because of pain in the back of the shoulder.

“A couple of extra days off won’t hurt Orel,” therapist Pat Screnar said.

By starting in Friday’s doubleheader with Ramon Martinez, Gross will be able to make consecutive starts. He started Saturday in place of Hershiser, and was tentatively scheduled to start next Tuesday after the Dodgers play six games in five days.

“Why make Kevin go the extra days out of the rotation when he’s in a groove and the other guy (Hershiser) is already not pitching,” pitching coach Ron Perranoski said.

“I’m just glad I’ll know about it more than a day before I’m supposed to go out there,” said Gross, who was given 24 hours notice before replacing Hershiser last Saturday. “I just hope I can go out there and do the job. It’s not so easy just go out there and start a game after you’ve been in the bullpen.”

Gross did well Saturday in his first start since May 25. He allowed the Chicago Cubs two earned runs in six innings.

As a starter, he is 3-4 with a 4.46 earned-run average. As a reliever, he is 5-5 with a 2.84 ERA and three saves.

Mike Scioscia missed a second consecutive start because of a bruised arch in his right foot. He said his bruised shoulder was fine. . . . Juan Samuel was benched after going hitless in five at-bats Monday with three strikeouts and two groundouts. Samuel batted .209 in August. . . . Jeff Hamilton, who has been on the disabled list since June 19 with a knee injury, said he hopes to be activated next week and could be used as a pinch-hitter.

A visitor in the Dodgers’ clubhouse Tuesday was Pedro Martinez, the Dodgers minor league pitching star and Ramon’s younger brother. Pedro said he understood why the Dodgers did not recall him this month even though he is their marquee minor leaguer. “Maybe it was too soon for them,” said Martinez, who began the season in Class A. “I think they needed to see me a little bit more.” Pedro will live with Ramon in Los Angeles for the rest of the season.

Before Tuesday’s game, Roger McDowell had stripes cut into his hair by Bob Ojeda, who used to style players’ hair when he played with the New York Mets.