LOS ANGELES -- When Milton Bradley strained his right oblique muscle on a swing on Friday in Denver, he didn't initially think that it would keep him out of the starting lineup for any prolonged period of time.

"Initially, I didn't feel like it would be something that would linger," Bradley said before Tuesday's game at Dodger Stadium, the first of three critical games against Los Angeles.

"But having had it before, I know the way I feel isn't great. Especially with three weeks left in the season."

The Padres entered a stretch of 20 regular-season games in 20 days on Tuesday without their veteran left fielder, who had been an important cog in the Padres' resurgent offense.

San Diego manager Bud Black said that the best-case scenario would have Bradley back in the lineup for a weekend series against the Giants at PETCO Park, though there is no exact timetable for the outfielder's return.

"Probably doubtful this series, maybe by the weekend," Black said. "Keeping our fingers crossed. It's just how he feels. After speaking to him on Sunday -- and he saw our doctor on Sunday -- he was still in a little discomfort that led us to believe it will be three or four days."

But as has been the case with other notable oblique injuries this season -- outfielder Scott Hairston and pitcher Chris Young -- there's no certain timetable for recovery. In the case of Hairston, it was a month. For Young, it was two starts, although he was subsequently slowed by tightness in his lower back, the results from overcompensating for his oblique.

And that might well be the worst part for Bradley -- not knowing when he's going to be healthy enough to play again.

"Not very happy about how I'm feeling, let's put it that way," Bradley said. "I'm not feeling any pain right now, but if I try to swing, maybe. But it's not coming along like I expected. Whatever possible I can do to get back, that's what I'm doing."

Since he was obtained from the A's on June 29, Bradley is hitting .321 with 10 home runs and 39 RBIs, though he missed 15 consecutive starts with a hamstring injury.

And now it's his right oblique that has felled him, which, oddly enough, is the very same injury he suffered to his left oblique with the A's in June. Bradley was almost a member of the Royals, though a failed physical eventually led to his trade to the Padres.

Bradley proved to be the No. 3 hitter the Padres had coveted all season, and his presence allowed Mike Cameron to hit No. 2 and left Adrian Gonzalez at No. 4, with many more quality pitches with Bradley hitting before him.

The Padres were just 8-7 in games he did not start with that hamstring injury, and 10-6 in games he started since he returned to full-time duty on Aug. 21.

The Padres have used Brady Clark and Terrmel Sledge in left field in place of Bradley. There's a chance Hairston could get a start there during this series against the Dodgers.

Second time around: Padres infielder Brian Myrow is in familiar surroundings at Dodger Stadium, as he played for the Dodgers briefly in 2005.

Myrow made his big league debut with the Dodgers in 2005, played 19 games for them and collected just four hits with two runs scored in 20 at-bats.

"I was only there for a month," Myrow said. "I know some of the guys, but there's no real feelings one way or another. Most of the guys are gone. It's a completely different team. It's definitely a different time."

Myrow is one of several Padres who have played for the Dodgers, including Oscar Robles, Brett Tomko, Clark and Bradley.

Myrow has appeared in just three games for San Diego, with two at-bats, and already he's notched his first career RBI. It came last Friday against Colorado. Myrow had a pinch-hit double in that game, knocking in Geoff Blum.

"It was good, it was exciting," Myrow said. "I wish I could have followed up the next time I got up, but I couldn't, but it was good. It was good to get it off my back. I had a couple opportunities when I was with the Dodgers, and I had two different times when the guy got thrown out at the plate. So I had some opportunities and I was glad to come through right there."

Friars notes: Strikeouts For Troops, a national non-profit organization founded by San Francisco Giants pitcher Barry Zito to assist war-wounded troops and their families, has launched a joint effort with USAA, a financial services company that serves military families. USAA will contribute $400 for every strikeout thrown in the Major Leagues on Tuesday, matching and expanding Zito's personal donation of $400 for each strikeout he records. ... Class A Lake Elsinore took a 2-1 series lead over Lancaster in the California League semifinal series on Monday. The Storm will play Game 4 of the five-game series on Tuesday at home. The Double-A San Antonio Missions are still alive in the playoffs. They will face Springfield in Game 1 in the Texas League championships on Tuesday. ... Gonzalez has a hit in his last 11 games, and he has at least one hit in 21 of his last 24 games. In that 24-game stretch, Gonzalez is batting .343 with seven home runs and 18 RBIs. ... The Padres have a 9-6 series lead over the Dodgers heading into the final games between these two teams. ... Closer Trevor Hoffman is three saves shy of extending his own Major League record of seasons with 40 or more saves to nine.

On deck: The Padres send Justin Germano (7-9, 4.38 ERA) to the mound Wednesday in the second game of a three-game series against the Dodgers. Los Angeles will counter with Derek Lowe (11-12, 3.80).