BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : WORLD SERIES

Atlanta pitcher Steve Avery called his 7-13 season his most disappointing. But a late return to form, including six shutout innings against the Cincinnati Reds in Game 4 of the league championship series, earned him the start against Ken Hill tonight.

The Braves could have gone to Greg Maddux on three days’ rest, leaving Maddux available for a possible Game 7 on three days’ rest, but Manager Bobby Cox said he wanted his starting pitchers “healthy, rested and feeling good.” Besides, he said, Avery is now pitching back to his 1991 playoff form, when he pitched 16 1/3 shutout innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates at 21.

Pitching coach Leo Mazzone said Avery lost command of his breaking stuff through the heart of the season but has regained it in his last four starts.

“His stuff is live,” Mazzone said.

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Left-handed relief specialist Paul Assenmacher, eligible for free agency after the World Series, is negotiating a multiyear contract with the Indians.

“There’s probably a good chance I’ll be back,” he said. “I don’t think they want to dismantle this team. The White Sox did that last year because of budget cuts and look what happened to them.”

Assenmacher, who was in 44 games with the White Sox last year, was among several veterans not offered 1995 contracts. The Sox finished 32 games behind Cleveland in the American League Central.