BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Valdes Gets Call for Relief Duty

As expected, the Dodgers called up pitcher Ismael Valdes Wednesday, a 20-year-old right-hander from triple-A Albuquerque who was nicknamed “Rocket” after Rocket Ismail, not because of his fastball. To make room, left-hander Gary Wayne has been designated for assignment with hopes that he will accept one in Albuquerque.

Ismael will join the team in Chicago.

Valdes’ will work in middle relief. He began the season in double-A San Antonio and was called up to Albuquerque a few weeks ago.

“He’s been starting at Albuquerque, but we wanted the type of guy who could pitch short relief and pitch longer, too,” Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president, said. “As hard as (Darren Dreifort) throws when he goes out there, we don’t want him to pitch more than an inning or two.”

Valdes had a 3-0 record with a 2.77 earned-run average in four starts and 26 innings at Albuquerque. Overall, he has 79 strikeouts and 15 walks in 79 1/3 innings.

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The team’s trip to Chicago couldn’t come at a better time for Brett Butler, who is concerned because his mother, Betty, who lives there, just learned that cancer has spread to her lymph nodes.