Tomko wants to start somewhere

Brett Tomko said he knows that he probably will return to the bullpen after making a spot start Sunday, but he made clear he doesn’t want to be a middle reliever for long.

He wants to start, so much so that he seems open to playing elsewhere.

Of starting, Tomko said, “That’s what I want to do. That’s what I want to do next year. I don’t see myself wanting to do what I’m doing right now next year on any team.”

The struggling right-hander will be taking the place in the rotation that belongs to Randy Wolf, who is recovering from a sore shoulder. Manager Grady Little said he’s undecided whether he’ll give Tomko another start if Wolf needs to skip a second turn.

Tomko, who began the season as the Dodgers’ fifth starter and is 1-7 with an earned-run average of 6.18, called Sunday’s game “an opportunity.” “Pitching well’s going to take care of a lot of things, whether it’s pitching here or being enticeable to a different team,” he said.

Tomko didn’t oppose the idea of being dealt by General Manager Ned Colletti before the July 31 trade deadline.

“I’ve got loyalty to Ned for what he’s done for me in bringing me here,” Tomko said. “If that’s what it is, that’s what it is.”

And if Colletti decides the Dodgers need him as a reliever?

“It’s not what I really want to do,” Tomko said. “Ultimately, it’s his decision. If that’s what he wants me to do -- I signed a two-year deal -- then, of course, I’m going to go out and do it the best I can do it.”

Tomko has an option year for 2008 worth $4.5 million. The Dodgers would owe him $1 million if they don’t pick up the option. If they pick up the option, Tomko can reject it.

Tomko said his time in the bullpen has been “really tough.”

“It’s pretty obvious how it’s been going and how the fans have reacted,” said Tomko, referring to booing at Dodger Stadium. “It wears on you. It hasn’t been an easy situation. I feel like I’ve been throwing the ball decent, just getting poor results. So it’s tough. I didn’t really have a defined role in the bullpen. It’s been a very trying month and a half, two months. It hasn’t been fun.”

Little said he chose to start Tomko in San Francisco because “he started most of his career. Maybe if we could get him into that comfort zone, maybe that’ll get him off and running the way we know he’s capable of doing.”

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Derek Lowe has traded places in the rotation with Brad Penny and will start today to give the blister on Penny’s index finger a couple of extra days to heal. Penny, who pitched an inning in the All-Star game Tuesday, will pitch Monday, when the Dodgers host the Philadelphia Phillies.

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Wolf estimates that his shoulder is 90% to 95% recovered and that he could start light throwing today or Sunday. Wolf is eligible to be activated from the disabled list July 19 but said he isn’t pushing himself to be back by that day.

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Matt Kemp and Tony Abreu received treatment every day during the All-Star break for muscle strains and have been cleared to play without any restrictions. Kemp strained his right hamstring Sunday but said he felt fine by the next day. Abreu, who sat out the Dodgers’ last two games leading into the break because of a lower abdominal strain, said he’s 90% to 95% recovered.

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Little’s third grandchild, Jace Dalton Little, was born Thursday.... Hong-Chih Kuo, who is on the disabled list because of a sore elbow, played catch for the third day in a row Friday.... Olmedo Saenz had his wisdom teeth pulled Monday, and the procedure has freed him from the headaches connected to the pain in his jaw.... Barry Bonds, who started for the Giants on Friday, is expected to play today and Sunday.

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dylan.hernandez@latimes.com