BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Snyder Fills In for Strawberry

Cory Snyder, almost out of baseball two seasons ago, says he doesn’t mind his current role playing backup up to Darryl Strawberry’s back.

Snyder made his second consecutive start for Strawberry in right field Wednesday, but he knows he could be back on the bench come the weekend, when Strawberry plans his return to the lineup.

Snyder, 30, is trying to make the most of his chances.

He signed as a free agent in December and might have expected more than 26 at-bats entering the 27th game of the season. He can also play third and first base.

With Strawberry’s status so precarious, though, Snyder’s role remains unclear.

“For the past few years, I haven’t taken anything for granted,” Snyder said. “I don’t know how much I’ll play. I just come out and play hard.”

He said it isn’t easy waiting around for the occasional start, knowing his fate is tied to the fortunes of others.

“It’s always in my mind,” he said. “But I don’t want anyone to get hurt, and no one wants to see me get hurt. If no one gets hurt, we’ll go to the World Series.”

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The best guess is that Strawberry will attempt to make a start against San Francisco over the weekend at Candlestick Park, not known as the best place to loosen up a stiff back.

Strawberry has pretty much ruled himself out of Friday night’s game, but might return for day games either Saturday or Sunday.

Strawberry completed a two-hour exercise program for his back Wednesday and then participated in a pain-free batting practice session. Therapist Pat Screnar said he does not expect any problems associated with Strawberry’s batting practice.

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No respect dept: Al LaMacchia, vice president of the Toronto Blue Jays, had his car towed from Lot 5 at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday night. Larry Kahn, the Dodger correspondent for KMPC radio, also had his car towed. Both had valid parking credentials. . . . Met pitcher Sid Fernandez was sent back to New York to have a magnetic resonance imaging test performed on his right knee. The cause of Fernandez’s injury was not immediately known.