Houston All-Star first baseman Lance Berkman will have minor surgery on his left knee today and will miss two to four weeks, a recovery period that could keep out of the lineup for opening day.

Berkman, 34, injured his knee during a baserunning drill at spring training March 1.

Tests showed that Berkman bruised his knee, and he played five games after skipping the Astros' spring training opener.

Berkman's knee continued to swell, and team doctor David Lintner decided Friday that the five-time All-Star slugger should have arthroscopic surgery.

Astros general manager Ed Wade said the team is confident the injury won't be a lingering problem. "We certainly don't encourage players to have surgery, but if this is an easy fix, it removes the uncertainty that it could occur again," Wade said. "We think that once it gets addressed, that it's a dead issue and we won't have to worry about it anymore."

Berkman had arthroscopic surgery on the same knee in 1999. He missed 18 games last year with a strained left calf and hit .274, a career low for a full season.

He is entering the final season of an $85 million, six-year contract extension.

Chicago's new owners will listen to manager Lou Piniella if he wants to return when his contract runs out after this season. "If he feels well and wants to keep going, we'll have an interesting conversation," team president Crane Kenney said this week. "He has done a great job. He has raised the bar and that's a little bit of the burden we all carry now." Piniella is in the fourth and final year of his contract. He led the Cubs to a pair of division titles before they slumped to 83-78 last season.

Kenney represents new owner Tom Ricketts who has also already begun an upgrade of Wrigley Field, the second oldest park in the major leagues, improving restrooms and locker room facilities.

Manager Ken Macha said Trevor Hoffman is on track to make a few spring training appearances before the season begins. Hoffman has yet to appear in an exhibition so far, and the Brewers have been giving the 42-year-old career saves leader extra rest.

Manny Ramirez went 0 for 3 as the designated hitter, and a Dodgers' split squad heavy on minor leaguers was held to three hits in a 5-2 loss to a team of Taiwanese All-Stars that opened a three-game exhibition series. ... Aroldis Chapman struck out two over two scoreless innings as the Reds beat the Dodgers, 3-2. Chapman allowed just two infield singles. ... Chone Figgins ended his spring slump with two hits, including a two-run triple during the Mariners' four-run fifth, as Seattle tied the Royals, 6-6. ... Jim Edmonds hit a two-run homer to strengthen his case for making the Brewers' opening-day roster as Milwaukee beat the Cubs' split-squad, 12-3.

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