Brown Could Return This Week

The Dodgers said Sunday they’re still proceeding cautiously with pitcher Kevin Brown, but all signs point to him rejoining the club after his second rehabilitation start this week.

General Manager Dan Evans and Manager Jim Tracy were encouraged by Brown’s 3 2/3-inning performance Saturday in his first outing for triple-A Las Vegas, and the right-hander is expected to start again for the 51s either Thursday or Friday. Evans said plans for his second start would be finalized today.

“I’m very optimistic after what I heard,” Evans said. “He had no problems with his elbow or his back, and the most encouraging part for me was that his velocity remained consistent throughout.”

John Boles, one of Evans’ senior advisors, reported that Brown’s fastball was clocked between 87-93 mph, and consistently registered 91 mph. Brown gave up one hit, one run and walked two with three strikeouts in a 50-pitch, 32-strike performance.

Brown, recovering from elbow and back surgeries, said he did not experience pain while pitching. Pat Screnar, the team’s physical therapist, evaluated Brown on Sunday at Dodger Stadium, and the program moved forward.

Tracy said that Brown, eager to be activated soon, would probably throw about 80 pitches in his next start. The Dodgers said Brown must be capable of working at least six innings before being activated, and he might not have the stamina to do that, smoothly, after only two starts in the minors.

However, Brown has exceeded the Dodgers’ expectations throughout the process, and the longer he’s out the more ornery he gets, prompting players to believe he won’t make three starts for Las Vegas.

“A 90-pitch target is a safe target to say a guy could give you six solid innings,” Tracy said. “But then again, we’ve seen Kevin Brown give us seven innings with 79 pitches. We’ve just got to wait and see.”

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Infielder Alex Cora changed his approach in winter ball after struggling last season, shortening his swing and focusing on improving the quality of his at-bats.

Those adjustments helped Cora, batting .299, improve his standing on the club despite losing the everyday shortstop job to Cesar Izturis out of spring training. Tracy said Cora has been an asset off the bench, and plans to utilize him more down the stretch.

“It’s great that Trace said that about me, and I accept the challenge,” said Cora, who had a run-scoring single and walked twice in a 4-3 victory against the Philadelphia Phillies at Veterans Stadium.

“You have to accept your role, but you’ve got to keep pushing, and the only way you can do that is to just perform. I’ve given myself a chance on every at-bat this year, and I’ve probably gone from the 25th man back in spring training, to someone who Trace thinks should be out there now.”

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Jesse Orosco has retired nine consecutive batters. The left-handed specialist has given up only two hits and a run in six innings, spanning 10 appearances, since the All-Star break.... In the second half, Adrian Beltre has seven home runs and 22 runs batted in. Shawn Green, Eric Karros, Brian Jordan and Paul Lo Duca have combined for six homers and 25 RBIs.... Karros, fifth on the club with nine homers, has not hit a homer in his last 100 plate appearances. He singled, doubled and scored Sunday.... The Dodgers have had only one RBI from the cleanup spot in the last 23 games.

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TODAY

DODGERS’

HIDEO NOMO

(11-6, 3.31 ERA)

vs.

PHILLIES’

BRANDON

DUCKWORTH

(5-8, 4.88 ERA)

Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, 10 a.m. PDT

TV--Fox Sports Net 2.

Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

Update--Nomo, who has victories in his last two starts, is 7-5 with a 3.38 earned-run average in his career against the Phillies. Duckworth is 0-2 with a 5.87 ERA in the second half.

Jason Reid