Brown to Start Tuesday in Arizona

Kevin Brown, who has been sidelined because of a strained right Achilles’ tendon, will come off the disabled list and start Tuesday’s series opener at Arizona, rather than today’s series finale against San Francisco.

“It’s nice to have a date,” Brown said Saturday afternoon. “Obviously, I want to throw [today] but that’s how it works out best for the team.”

“I’ve been throwing every other day on the side anyhow, so [today] would be a side day, how I would normally do it.”

Brown, 36, took part in the 20-minute pitcher fielding practice in the Dodger Stadium infield Saturday before running individual wind sprints in the outfield under the watch of therapist Pat Screnar. Brown then ran the bases.

“He’s progressed extremely well,” Manager Jim Tracy said. “He still has to run the bases at full speed, which he’ll do [today] and it will also give him the opportunity to throw a side [workout].”

With Eric Gagne starting today and Brown pitching Tuesday, the Dodgers’ third and fourth starters, Darren Dreifort and Andy Ashby, are each pushed back.

“It affords Dreif and Ashby an extra day of rest,” Tracy said.

Rookie right-hander Luke Prokopec, who limited the Giants to one run on four hits in 7 2/3 innings Friday night, will be optioned to triple-A Las Vegas upon Brown’s activation.

Brown missed his final spring training start and was scratched from opening day. All along, Brown insisted that he could pitch. The problem was in fielding his position and running the bases.

“I think he sees the sensibility in [coming back slowly],” Tracy said. “It was to minimize the risk.”

While Brown understands the delay in making his season debut, that doesn’t mean he likes it.

“The whole idea,” Brown said, “was to make me wait until they felt like I could do everything without having to worry about it.”

*

No timetable has been set for Dave Hansen’s return, but the utility player, who broke his left middle finger diving into first base in the first spring training game on March 2, is progressing.

Hansen, who last year set a major league record with seven pinch-hit home runs, began hitting off a tee last week and will soon begin hitting “soft toss” before taking live batting practice. A rehab assignment in Las Vegas will ensue.

“He needs to play,” Tracy said. “It would be unfair to him to pull him off the DL and proclaim him ready.”

Hansen, who went on the 15-day disabled list March 27, retroactive to March 23, had been on the disabled list only once before in his 10-year career, in 1994 because of a strained right abdominal muscle.

“I’m not ready for a 95-mile-an-hour fastball yet but I’m ready to play,” Hansen said. “I’m tired of this working-out stuff. I’m ready to play some ball.”

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

ERIC GAGNE

(0-0, 1.80 ERA)

VS.

GIANTS’

KIRK RUETER

(0-0, 9.00 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 5

TV--ESPN. Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

* Update--Gagne is 0-1 with a 5.40 earned-run average in three starts against the Giants. The left-handed Rueter will be working on three days rest for the first time in his career. In 14 career outings against the Dodgers, Rueter is 6-4 with a 4.18 ERA.

* Tickets--(323) 224-1HIT.