Jackson Might Get Ishii’s Rotation Spot

Because of the erratic performance of Kazuhisa Ishii, the Dodgers said they would consider activating rookie pitcher Edwin Jackson from the disabled list after only one rehabilitation outing to start Tuesday against the Expos at Montreal.

After disappointing again in Thursday’s 6-5 loss to Atlanta, Ishii is tentatively scheduled to remain in the rotation and start against the Expos in the second game of a 13-game, 14-day trip. But Manager Jim Tracy said the team might instead turn to Jackson, who pitched two innings Friday in his first rehabilitation start for triple-A Las Vegas after having been sidelined since July 17 because of a strained right forearm.

Tracy and pitching coach Jim Colborn also would consider using a combination of relievers Elmer Dessens and Duaner Sanchez against the Expos, though their availability would depend on the bullpen’s workload against the Braves this weekend.

What’s clear is that the Dodgers are eager to find an option other than Ishii, whom they would rather not have in the rotation down the stretch of the playoff race.

“Once again last night, we saw a performance that is similar to some of the others we’ve seen,” Tracy said of Ishii, who struggled with his command and gave up five runs in four innings against the Braves.

“He walked three guys in the first inning, and all three runners came around to score. A four-run first inning was a major difference in the game, but as of right now, he would be our pitcher Tuesday in Montreal.”

Jackson -- the organization’s 2002 minor league pitcher of the year -- last started July 8 in a 7-2 victory over Houston. He struggled with his mechanics in bullpen sessions before starting for Las Vegas.

Although Jackson has thrown as many as 80 pitches in bullpen sessions recently, would the Dodgers really put him back in the rotation after only one rehab start?

“Is he a possible candidate? Yes,” Tracy said. “Is it likely after only one time? Probably not.”

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The Dodgers might soon activate Hideo Nomo if the right-hander has another effective rehabilitation outing tonight for Las Vegas.

Tracy and Colborn were pleased with Nomo’s first three-inning stint for the 51s, and he might pitch as many as five innings in his second start. Would a solid showing prompt the Dodgers to bring back Nomo?

“Possibly,” Tracy said. “I think this one is very important, meaning that rather than basing a decision on one time out and three innings, let’s try to extend him out and see how he does. The encouraging thing about his first time was that he continued to get better. So if we increase his workload to four [or] five innings, it will be interesting to see ... how that works itself out.”

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Beginning play Friday, closer Eric Gagne was 0-3 with a 7.00 earned-run average since having pitched three innings Aug. 1 against San Diego.

Gagne said that appearance had nothing to do with his slump.

“Not at all,” he said. “... Everybody keeps asking about that, but that’s not the point. It’s bad pitches I’m making. It’s bad decisions. It has nothing to do with anything physical. Physically, I feel great. Mentally, it happens sometimes. Sometimes you don’t get it right, and that’s what happened the last couple of nights.”