BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Candiotti Makes Way for Nomo

Starter Tom Candiotti emerged Tuesday as perhaps the key to the Dodgers’ postseason hopes when he agreed to pitch on only two days’ rest this weekend, allowing Hideo Nomo to start Monday against the Colorado Rockies.

Candiotti, a knuckleballer, will start Thursday against the San Diego Padres and will face them again on Sunday.

This permits the Dodgers to start Nomo, Ramon Martinez and Kevin Tapani on Sept. 25-27 against the first-place Rockies. They tentatively plan to use starter Ismael Valdes in the bullpen, and will finish the season against the Padres with Candiotti, Nomo and Martinez. If the Dodgers already have a playoff spot clinched before the final day, they’ll open the division playoffs with Martinez.

“There are so many variables right now,” said Dave Wallace, Dodger pitching coach, “we’re going day-to-day on this thing. But [Candiotti] is the one guy who could go on such short rest if we have to do it.”

Candiotti, who doesn’t have a contract for next season, realizes he’s putting himself at risk. Yet, he says, his desire to reach the playoffs is so strong that the risk is secondary.

“I don’t have an ego problem where I have to pitch on the fifth day,” Candiotti said. “In my mind, there’s no excuse for not going after what I want, and that’s to be back in the playoffs.

“I know it’s a big risk. You’re taxing your body, your shoulder and your arm. But if anybody can do it, I can do it. I told them whatever you need to do, I’ll do it.”

Candiotti has a 4-3 career record against the Padres, yielding a 3.18 earned-run average.

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While several pitchers are expected to leave the Japanese League this winter and join the major leagues, Dodger President Peter O’Malley said the Dodgers will stay out of the bidding.

“I think Nomo is a special case,” O’Malley said. “A Hideo Nomo comes along very infrequently. Nomo is totally unique.”

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Whether it’s plain apathy or the fact there’s still no basic agreement, the Dodgers have been unable to sell out their playoff tickets for their possible first-round opponent Oct.3-Oct. 4 at Dodger Stadium.

“We think sales will be hot during the home stand,” said Debra Duncan, director of ticket operations. “You can see it coming.”

For the moment, Dodger fans seem more interested in next week’s three-game series against the Colorado Rockies. Duncan expects crowds to exceed 40,000 in each of the three games.