Rest Could Be History for Nomo

Out of viable options and running out of time, the Dodgers might need an even bigger boost from Hideo Nomo in the final days of an intense National League wild-card race.

With the rotation in tatters and Nomo willing, Manager Jim Tracy said Wednesday he is strongly considering using Nomo twice on three days’ rest in the final week of the season.

“We can do anything we want with Nomo,” Tracy said before Wednesday’s game. “There’s 11 games left and there’s one game separating the [Dodgers and Giants] for the final playoff spot.”

Odalis Perez is scheduled to start the final game of a four-game showdown with the San Francisco Giants tonight at Dodger Stadium, and Andy Ashby the opener of a three-game series against the San Diego Padres at Qualcomm Stadium. Nomo and Omar Daal are set to start the last two games against San Diego and the club is off Monday, which would enable Tracy and pitching coach Jim Colborn to make changes.

Using Perez on short rest is a possibility, or the Dodgers could turn to a reliever for a start or leave Kevin Beirne in the rotation.

Tracy and Colborn would prefer to keep Nomo on his regular schedule, but desperate times call for desperate measures. And these are desperate times for the Dodger rotation.

Kazuhisa Ishii is sidelined for the remainder of the season after being struck with a line drive and having a titanium plate inserted into his head, Kevin Brown is out with back problems and Daal and Ashby have been pounded in their last three starts.

No one needs to tell Tracy, who knows what the Dodgers are facing and what Nomo can do.

“There may be some things entertained that seem outlandish, but you have to ask yourself, ‘What are your choices?’ ” Tracy said. “I’ll entertain anything that makes sense and doesn’t risk injury.”

Having Nomo work on short rest seemingly doesn’t make sense.

The eight-year veteran has thrown the most pitches of any starter on the Dodgers and is ninth in the NL with 3,254. Nomo has thrown at least 120 pitches four times, including 367 in his last three starts.

That’s taxing work for anyone, and fatigue is a concern at this time of year for pitchers working on normal rest, but the Dodgers believe Nomo would do just fine.

“He seems to pitch better when he throws more,” Colborn said. “If it comes down to the last day of the season, you take your best option, and Nomo on three days may be our best option. In his case more than anyone else that wouldn’t be a concern.”

In Monday’s 7-6 victory, Nomo (15-6, 3.32 earned-run average) gave up three runs in the first three innings and threw 70 pitches. He limited the Giants to one hit and no runs in his final three innings.

The right-hander had a similar performance Sept. 11 at Pacific Bell Park, throwing 73 pitches in three innings and giving up two runs on six hits. The Giants were hitless during Nomo’s final 3 2/3 innings in a 7-3 Dodger victory.

While pitching for the Detroit Tigers in 2000, Nomo pitched a scoreless inning in relief against the Cleveland Indians three days after giving up eight hits and seven runs in eight innings against the Toronto Blue Jays. He started three days later against the New York Yankees, giving up nine hits and three runs in 5 1/3 innings.

“Nomo has been great for us all year,” right fielder Shawn Green said. “You know you can count on him every time he goes out there, and that’s all you can ask for.”

Staff writer Mike DiGiovanna contributed to this report.