Alvarez Might Be Ready for a Change in His Role

There is an elephant in the clubhouse, and the Dodgers might not be able to ignore it much longer.

Because the rotation has struggled early -- ranking 26th out of 30 teams with a 5.93 earned-run average beginning play Friday -- players have privately suggested that left-handed reliever Wilson Alvarez should replace a member of the five-man group.

The belief in the clubhouse, and among scouts covering the Dodgers, is that the rotation could be a concern throughout the season, possibly derailing what many now consider to be the best team in the National League West.

Players are reluctant to comment on the record about the Alvarez situation, saying they don’t want to be perceived as criticizing left-hander Kazuhisa Ishii, the most likely candidate to be bumped to the bullpen to make room for Alvarez. However, the consensus among veterans is that Alvarez should have a bigger role on the staff.

Manager Jim Tracy is comfortable with Alvarez in the bullpen.

“Right now, he is in the best spot for us,” Tracy said. “But to preclude the fact of him, at some point, becoming a part of our rotation ... there is that possibility.

“We are at a level where performance is paramount. Spring training is about preparation, the season is about performance, but we won’t come to any rash decisions on anything at this point.”

Ishii is 2-1 with a 6.48 ERA after Tuesday’s 7-1 loss to Colorado. Alvarez has no decisions, one save and an 0.75 ERA in five appearances.

Alvarez shined after finally joining the rotation last season, winning six consecutive decisions, in 10 starts, with a 1.39 ERA during that span. He also had a scoreless streak of 25 innings, matching the Dodgers’ longest such streak since 2000.

Removing Ishii from the rotation might seem to be an easy decision if he continued to struggle, but there is concern within management that Ishii could not pitch effectively out of the bullpen because of his command problems.

Although Alvarez would prefer to start, he said he wouldn’t rock the boat.

“I’ve been a starter my whole career, so I would like to start,” he said. “They say they need me as a reliever, and that’s fine to me, but I really would like to get six more wins for 100 this year. I think the only way to get them is to start.

“I feel I can do it. I feel my arm is fine and I feel good. When I came back here this year, I was thinking I would do both [start and relieve]. There were a few teams that wanted me as a starter, but I like it here. I’m comfortable with whatever they want.”

*

Tracy said right-hander Jose Lima would remain as the fifth starter and pitch May 1 against Montreal “unless something comes up that changes the landscape.”

*

Reliever Paul Shuey, out because of tendon damage in his right thumb, said he would be in a splint for at least another three weeks.