Nomo, Jackson May Have to Accept Bullpen Roles

With Hideo Nomo and Edwin Jackson on the road to recovery from arm injuries, the Dodgers could be presented with an interesting situation in the coming weeks. If both return, the team would have seven starting pitchers.

As of now the rotation of Brad Penny, Odalis Perez, Kazuhisa Ishii, Jeff Weaver and Jose Lima is set, and it has performed well of late. Manager Jim Tracy, however, said he doesn’t believe a player should lose his job because of injury.

Jackson will throw at least 60 pitches today in another bullpen session, and Nomo will throw about 45 to 50 pitches to hitters before Saturday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies.

“First of all, I don’t have any idea when either of them will be ready,” Tracy said Thursday. “If it’s down the road we’re talking about, how much would we want to infringe upon our staff? If [the rotation] is very successful at that point in time and it’s late enough in the season, you may not want to infringe upon it at all and just allow the situation to play itself out.

“If they’re doing what you’d like to see them consistently do, that means you’re doing pretty well. That’s not to say that if Hideo is healthy, he could [not] be of huge assistance to us. The same for Edwin Jackson.”

Another scenario would be for Nomo and Jackson to work out of the bullpen. Asking Jackson, a rookie, to be a reliever probably wouldn’t be a problem; Nomo may be a harder sell.

“You still should show the courtesy of asking him,” Tracy said. “Knowing him the way I do, I think he would be of a mind-set to say whatever we need.”

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Steve Finley was out of the lineup because of a sore right hamstring, but the injury isn’t expected to sideline the newly acquired veteran for long.

Tracy said the 39-year-old center fielder would be evaluated again today but doesn’t figure to play until Saturday because of his lack of success against tonight’s starter, Randy Wolf. Finley is hitless in 16 at-bats against the left-hander, a former Pepperdine star.

“It had the capability of being a lot more than it ended up being, which is a sore right hamstring instead of a slight pull, a tear or anything like that,” Tracy said. “Why rush a guy back [to face a pitcher whom] he is 0 for 16 lifetime against?”

Finley said he has been bothered at times by the hamstring this year and felt a twinge as he rounded second base on his fifth-inning double Wednesday night. He left the game after the inning.

On Wednesday, he was getting treatment from Edythe Heus, a Dana Point-based chiropractor who specializes in rehabilitating elite athletes. Finley has used an exercise program designed by Heus for several years and credits her for his longevity.

“Last year I missed about eight games with it, and that was the first time I ever had problems with it,” Finley said. “I was compensating a little bit earlier this year, and it just got irritated.

“I hate with a passion not playing. I like to push every button I have to push.”

ON DECK

Opponent -- Philadelphia Phillies, three games.

Site -- Dodger Stadium

TV -- Fox Sports Net 2 tonight, Channel 13 Saturday and Sunday.

Radio -- KFWB (980), KWKW (1330)

Records -- Dodgers 64-43; Phillies 56-52.

Record vs. Phillies -- 0-3.

Tonight, 7 -- Kazuhisa Ishii (11-5, 4.46) vs. Randy Wolf (4-7, 4.01).

Saturday, 7 p.m. -- Odalis Perez (4-4, 3.08) vs. Paul Abbott (1-5, 6.23).

Sunday, 1 p.m. -- Brad Penny (9-8, 2.97) vs. Brett Myers (6-8, 5.38).

Tickets -- (323) 224-1448.