LOS ANGELES -- Jeff Kent might not like sitting on the bench and watching baseball, but for the fifth straight game, that's all the second baseman could do.

Kent was not in the starting lineup Saturday, though the second baseman was available on a day-to-day basis along with Kenny Lofton. He is hampered by a strained left oblique (side) muscle, and though there is a chance he will see action before the All-Star break, the Dodgers do not want to rush anything.

"We'd love for him to be there, but if he goes in there and swings the bat wrong, he could be down two or three weeks," manager Grady Little said. "We are definitely not willing to take that risk."

Kent felt his side tighten during batting practice Monday. He was supposed to be 100 percent ready Friday night, and after initially being out of the lineup, Kent felt comfortable inserting himself into the game. However, he felt discomfort during batting practice and was another late scratch.

The Dodgers do not foresee placing Kent on the disabled list. They hope that the three-day All-Star break gives the 38-year-old enough time to rest his side.

However, Little recognized the importance of the final two games of the first half and how important it would be to head into the break in the top half of the National League West. Kent's bat was missed Thursday, when the Dodgers fell, 5-4, but Los Angeles pulled out a win Friday.

Ramon Martinez has played second base in the five games Kent has missed this week. Martinez batted in Kent's spot Thursday, going 1-for-3, while Andre Ethier batted in the fifth spot Friday, with three hits and one RBI. Matt Kemp was in the fifth spot Saturday.

Closure for the closer: Though the Dodgers did not expect to see Eric Gagne anytime soon, his replacement, Takashi Saito, always thought Gagne would be back this season.

Saito said that he did not get used to the idea of him as the Dodgers' regular closer and that his mindset had always been that Gagne would return. Now that he is faced with Gagne's absence for the rest of the season, Saito realized it would be hard to fill the shoes of the Dodgers' popular closer.

"I cannot make up for what Gagne has done," Saito said through an interpreter. "I cannot do it alone. The bullpen will have to come to work together."

However, Saito added, as long as he wears the Dodgers uniform, the Japanese pitcher will have confidence in his own abilities.

Saito notched his seventh save this year Friday night after allowing one run in the ninth. He has a 2.20 ERA in 37 appearances, and the rookie was selected as the 3 Day Blinds Dodgers Player of the Month for June.

Catching up: After two consecutive games where he went 0-for-4 and saw his average fall from .297 to .283, Russell Martin had a walk, a double and a triple Friday night.

It brought his average back up to .290.

Martin had been reaching out of the strike zone, something Little called a little out of character for the rookie catcher. Martin had the day off Saturday.

"We had a little talk with Russell," Little said. "He was trying to hit a little too hard."

Under the stars: Following Sunday's series finale against the Giants, Dodgers fans are invited to attend the inaugural Dodger Stadium Sleepover. More than 250 fans will enjoy a game of catch, dinner and a movie before they unfold their sleeping bags on the field. Fans at the "Blue Heaven Sleepover" will also receive a pillow, a T-shirt, a ticket to Sunday's game and breakfast. For more information, contact Carly Petersen at 323-224-1513 or via e-mail at carlyp@ladodgers.com.

Up next: Aaron Sele takes the mound against All-Star Jason Schmidt in the final game of the Dodgers-Giants four-game series. Sunday's first pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. PT.