Believe it: Dodgers go back to Charlie Haeger for a start Thursday against Angels

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And here we go again.…

It’s true, the Dodgers again have gone back to where they started in their elusive search for a fifth starter.

Charlie Haeger will start Thursday against the Angels.

Just how many times can the Dodgers close their eyes and cross their fingers?

At least nine times, it seems.

Sadly, Haeger is probably the most logical candidate to get the start. Which speaks volumes about the Dodgers’ starting pitching depth.

The other candidate is Claudio Vargas, who has made only one start at triple-A Albuquerque since being signed two weeks ago. And Vargas is not on the 40-man roster.

So it’s much easier to bring Haeger and his 0-4 record, 8.53 earned-run average and 2.09 WHIP off the disabled list for one more emergency start. He’d been on the DL with a sprained right big toe.

Manager Joe Torre said Chad Billingsley, on the DL with a sore groin, reported no pain throwing off the mound Tuesday and will start next Monday at San Francisco.

So it could easily be a onetime return for Haeger, who will have to come up with one serious turnaround if he harbors hopes of sticking in the rotation.

Haeger is coming off an encouraging rehab start at Albuquerque. On Sunday he threw six scoreless innings, allowing only two hits while walking four. He struck out four.

‘We’ll find out about him coming out of a good outing, confidence wise,’ Torre said. ‘Physically we feel that his foot is not an issue. He got the knuckleball over a lot in his last start.’

The Dodgers are just hoping Haeger can eat up some innings and not overwork their bullpen heading into this weekend’s series against the Yankees.

‘We’re hoping,’ Torre said. ‘You need another start and I think a knuckleballer is a little different than other people. You don’t have to worry about arm strength.

‘So we’ll see. We’re hopeful he can go out there and get us deep in the game.’

Sometimes you have to close your eyes and throw the dice.

-- Steve Dilbeck