BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Astacio Warming Up After a Chilly July

After faltering through July with a 1-2 record and a 6.92 earned-run average, Pedro Astacio has rebounded in August to go 3-1 with a 2.67 ERA. He became the team’s first 10-game winner with a victory Saturday, giving him a 10-7 record, but his overall 4.41 ERA is the highest among the starters.

“I’m feeling more confident and comfortable now,” Astacio said. “My location has been good and my changeup is working well.”

Yet after leading the team last season with four complete games, all shutouts, Astacio hasn’t gone longer than 7 1/3 innings in 25 starts.

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John Dreifort, the father of the Dodgers’ No. 1 draft pick, pitcher Darren Dreifort, said late Sunday night that Darren might not attend classes today at Wichita State, leaving open the negotiations with the Dodgers.

“Keeping him (Darren) out won’t hurt if some decent negotiations can take place,” John Dreifort said.

The Dodgers must sign Darren Dreifort before he attends classes or they lose the rights to him.

John Dreifort said he may call the Dodgers today, but he believes that the two parties may be suffering from communications problems.

The Dodgers offered Darren a signing bonus of about $1.2 million, according to John Dreifort. But the two sides disagreed on a three-year major league contract.

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Brett Butler did not start Sunday because of a bruised left foot he suffered after being hit by a pitch during Saturday’s game. It was only the fourth time in 123 games this season that Butler has not started and only the third game he has not played in this season. Mike Piazza did not start because of a groin injury.