Brown Will Test Elbow Against Rockies Tuesday

Kevin Brown, sidelined almost six weeks because of a torn muscle on his pitching elbow, will be activated from the disabled list Tuesday to start against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium, Manager Jim Tracy said Friday.

The Dodgers decided to activate the right-hander, owed $60 million after this season, although the injury he suffered July 15 against the Pittsburgh Pirates has not healed completely.

Team medical personnel believe that Brown, who responded well to rehabilitation, will not further damage his elbow by pitching.

Interim General Manager Dave Wallace, Tracy and pitching coach Jim Colborn consulted trainer Stan Johnston in making the decision they hope will bolster the rotation for the stretch.

“Right now, he’s good,” Tracy said. “But where that takes us, I don’t know. I don’t know if that correlates to him being as dominant as we all know he’s capable of being. Is it five innings and [the injury] flares up again? I don’t know.

“The only thing that can answer that question is when we get to that point and he goes. We’ll find out, and we’re all aware of that. I mean, it’s not like it’s a secretive thing or anything like that. We’re totally aware of that.”

Brown declined comment. He will pitch in a simulated game today at Turner Field and then rest until Tuesday.

Rookie right-hander Luke Prokopec will be bumped to the bullpen when Brown--8-4 with a 2.95 earned-run average--is put on the 25-man roster.

“We felt it was best to plug him in [Tuesday],” Tracy said, “so we don’t disrupt any of our thought processes as far as the remainder of the season goes, where he is and who he matches up against.”

The Dodgers have realigned the rotation for the three-game series against the Rockies, pushing back right-handers James Baldwin and Chan Ho Park to start the final two games.

Tracy shuffled the group because of the National League West and NL wild-card playoff races.

Brown is 8-1 with a 1.86 ERA against the second-place San Francisco Giants, who are leading the wild-card standings.

“He pitches twice against the Giants . . . it sets our rotation up very well,” Tracy said. “It’s something we looked at, we talked about [and] felt was very important.”

Tracy said the Dodgers have exercised caution with Brown.

“If we were out of [playoff contention], and were running the risk of losing this guy for a period of time into next year or something like that, then maybe you would weigh the decision more heavily on one side over the other,” he said. “But that’s just not the case right now.

“Are we pushing the envelope? No we’re not. [Team physician Frank] Jobe said that he needed a good six weeks, and we will get to that point by the time he’s ready to go. We will be right on target.”

Tracy remains supportive of Eric Karros, but the struggling first baseman must produce more soon.

“We cannot string him out for another 30 at-bats, or something like that, and just be dealing with futility offensively,” he said. “I said 30, but I’m using a number off the top of my head. It’s more so looking at it from a game standpoint. I’m not looking at it and saying if it’s 0 for 4, ‘Oh, well that’s it.

“The quality of the at-bats is what is looming in my mind, and what I’m analyzing. You’re looking at it and saying to yourself, ‘Well, how well is he swinging the bat?’ It’s one thing to go 0 for 4 and look futile. It’s another thing to go out there, hit four bullets and they make four good plays on you. That’s what I want to see.”

*

Relief pitcher Matt Herges has recovered from an allergic reaction to a medication for his knee problem.

“It was pretty bad [Tuesday],” Herges said. “I was in bed all day and couldn’t really do anything.”

Herges worked a perfect ninth inning in Thursday’s 6-2 victory over the Florida Marlins at Pro Player Stadium.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

LUKE PROKOPEC

(6-6, 4.69 ERA)

vs.

BRAVES’

JASON MARQUIS

(3-4, 3.59 ERA)

Turner Field, 4 PDT

TV--Channel 5. Radio--KXTA (1150) KWKW (1330)

Update--Prokopec, on the disabled list since Aug. 9 because of blisters on the middle finger of his pitching hand, will be activated before the game. The right-hander is winless in his last 12 starts, and 0-2 with a 6.28 earned-run average in the second half. Marquis, a rookie right-hander, has a 2.14 ERA in seven outings since the All-Star break.