Tracy Sets Rotation, Senses Opportunity

With an eye toward making a playoff run, Dodger Manager Jim Tracy announced the team’s pitching rotation for the start of the second half of the season before Saturday’s 2-1 interleague victory over the Seattle Mariners.

Converted reliever Terry Adams will start Thursday at Oakland and will be followed by Chan Ho Park and Luke Prokopec before Kevin Brown and Eric Gagne, who will be recalled from triple-A Las Vegas, face the Pittsburgh Pirates July 15 and 16 in the first two games of a three-game series at PNC Park.

“As we start the second half of the season . . . Chicago and, I believe, Philadelphia are the only two clubs we’re playing until the 20th of August that are over .500,” Tracy said. “It’s an opportunity for our club to make a huge statement over the last six weeks of the season.

“I’m encouraged.”

Shuffling the rotation also allows Brown, 36, who has been on the disabled list twice this season, to rest some more while getting in three bullpen sessions before his start at Pittsburgh.

When Jeff Williams takes the mound for the Dodgers today for his fourth career start, it will be the left-hander’s first start since Sept. 30, 1999, when he beat the San Francisco Giants in the final baseball game at Candlestick Park.

“I’m very excited about it, it’s what I want to do,” Williams said of starting. “It’s a good opportunity for me, being out there, but I realize it’s sort of a one-offer right now. Hopefully I’ll show them that, in the future if they need that spot start, then I’m the guy to go to.”

Williams, who began the year at Las Vegas after undergoing off-season surgery to reduce scarring around the ulnar nerve of his left wrist, is 2-0 with a 2.53 earned-run average in eight relief appearances since being called up June 12.

“From the preparation side of it all and wanting the ball every fifth day, [starting] definitely fits my personality, for sure,” Williams said. “But I realize I’ve got to help the ballclub in any way I can.”

Williams, 29, is starting in place of Prokopec, 23, his Australian countryman who is out because of a blister on his right (pitching) hand.

TODAY

DODGERS’

JEFF WILLIAMS

(2-0, 2.53 ERA)

vs.

MARINERS’

AARON SELE

(9-1, 3.64 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 1 p.m.

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

Update--In two career appearances against the Dodgers, Sele is 2-0 with a 1.29 earned-run average.

Tickets--(323) 224-1448.