Back Pain Sidelines Mondesi

Raul Mondesi has been playing in pain, remaining in the Dodger lineup despite a sore lower back.

Until Thursday night.

Back stiffness forced the center fielder to leave in the third inning of a 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. Mondesi is listed as day to day, and he expects to be sidelined for at least two more days.

On the eve of a key four-game series against the New York Mets, the Dodgers will be without their catalyst.

“It’s been real bad for about five days,” said Mondesi, who struck out twice before leaving the game. “I do my exercises, but it still hurts.

“I think it’s better a little bit sometimes, but it hurt a lot today when I came to the ballpark. I’m going to take a couple of days off to rest, because it’s better to rest than to hurt myself more later on.”

Mondesi has thrived offensively despite his discomfort.

In 26 games this month, Mondesi is batting .336 (37 for 110) with four home runs and 16 runs batted in. He is batting .345 (40 for 116) with seven homers and 24 RBIs in his last 66 games.

“My team needs me now,” Mondesi said, “but my back is bad.”

ON DECK

* Opponent--New York Mets, four games.

* Tonight--4:30 PDT.

* Site--Shea Stadium, New York.

* TV--Channel 5 every game.

* Radio--AM 1150, KWKW (1330).

* Records--Dodgers 56-52, Mets 56-49.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ DARREN DREIFORT

(6-9, 3.66 ERA)

vs.

METS’ MASATO YOSHII

(4-6, 3.93 ERA)

* Update--Mike Piazza is the focus of attention because the all-star catcher is facing his former teammates for the first time. But this series also reunites others who have played for both teams this season. The Mets traded starting pitchers Dave Mlicki and Brian Bohanon to the Dodgers, and the Dodgers traded starter Hideo Nomo and reliever Brad Clontz, currently with the Mets’ triple-A affiliate, to New York. Reliever Greg McMichael was traded to the Dodgers, and then back to the Mets. Darren Dreifort has a 3.47 ERA in his last 10 starts, but he is only 3-4 during that span. Rookie Mike Judd is tentatively scheduled to make his first start in the second game of the series, but that might change if the Dodgers acquire left-hander Carlos Perez of the Montreal Expos before today’s midnight (EDT) trade deadline.

* Saturday, 4 p.m. PDT--Mike Judd (0-0, 0.00) vs. Rick Reed (11-7, 2.75).

* Sunday, 10:30 a.m. PDT--Brian Bohanon (4-6, 3.04) vs. Hideo Nomo (5-8, 4.34).

* Monday, 4:30 p.m. PDT--Dave Mlicki (5-4, 4.89) vs. Al Leiter (10-4, 1.97).