Taking a Rain Check Has Its Advantages

Time off might be just what the struggling Dodgers need, and they got a break when Saturday’s game against the San Francisco Giants was postponed because of rain.

The game has been rescheduled for Sept. 27 as part of a day-night doubleheader at Pacific Bell Park, and the clubs’ schedules could be further revised because another downpour is expected today. Under one plan being considered, the Dodgers and Giants would play a makeup game April 21 if weather affects the final game of the four-game series.

Dodger right-hander Kevin Brown and Giant right-hander Jason Schmidt, Saturday’s starters, are scheduled to pitch tonight. The Giants are streaking and the Dodgers are off to another slow start at 5-7, hoping to regroup after a dreary day.

“I don’t know if there’s a sense of complete urgency, but we better start playing well soon,” catcher Paul Lo Duca said. “With the way the Giants have started, next thing you know you could be 10 games out of first place. We’ve already put ourselves in a position where we’re going to have to play catch up from here on out.”

After dropping the first two games in the series, the Dodgers trail the Giants by 5 1/2 games in the National League West.

“We came to play today, but there’s nothing you can do about the weather,” Giant Manager Felipe Alou said. “One day [off] is not going to hurt us. But two days, I don’t know.”

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Left-hander Odalis Perez is doubtful for his next start after suffering a sprained right ankle in Friday’s 3-2 loss, so Darren Dreifort might return to the rotation sooner than expected.

The Dodgers had planned to skip Dreifort, the fifth starter, because the club is off Monday, but the rainout and Perez’s injury have prompted Manager Jim Tracy to revise the rotation schedule.

Hideo Nomo will start Tuesday against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium, and Kazuhisa Ishii, initially scheduled to pitch today, goes Wednesday against the Padres in place of Perez. Dreifort, who recently underwent an MRI exam and bone scan on his surgically repaired right knee, or Perez would start the final game of the series Thursday.

“I’m going to have to try to throw on the side [today], and if I don’t make it, I won’t pitch in my next start,” Perez said. “I don’t feel I can land very well.

“If it doesn’t feel better, I’ll be the one that’s going to ask for X-rays. I want to know what’s going on.”

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First baseman Fred McGriff would not have been in the starting lineup Saturday, and Tracy said that McGriff, batting .146, needs tonight off as well to “sort some things out” at the plate.

Will McGriff benefit from a few days off?

“You mean to try to hit .300?” McGriff said sarcastically. “I think, as a team, we’re not swinging the bat well.

“So what, you’re going to give the whole team off? Some time to think about it? I’ve been playing a long time. You go out there and play; make adjustments. That’s how you play.”