Perez Says He’s the Man to Pitch Playoff Opener

Odalis Perez wants the ball.

The left-hander said Friday he expects to start Game 1 of the National League division series, assuming the Dodgers reach the playoffs, and he’s ready to deliver.

“I’m pitching the first game,” said Perez, who has playoff experience. “I want to be there. I want to be the one to take the ball. I’m ready to help this team and I want it to be on me. I’m ready to go.”

However, if the Dodgers lose today, Perez might pitch on three days’ rest against San Francisco on Sunday.

Manager Jim Tracy plans to start Perez in the playoff opener and right-handers Jeff Weaver and Jose Lima in the next two games of the best-of-five division series regardless of the opponent.

Tracy and pitching coach Jim Colborn might decide to employ a three-man rotation for the first round. Tracy intimated that Kazuhisa Ishii, twice demoted to the bullpen this season, would be the leading candidate to join the group.

Perez pitched eight strong innings Wednesday in his league-leading 18th no-decision, so he would be working on five days’ rest if the Dodgers opened the playoffs Tuesday as expected.

While with the Atlanta Braves in 1998, Perez had one appearance in the NL division series and two in the championship series. He totaled one inning and gave up five hits and two runs.

“The ball, and the first game, belongs to me,” Perez said. “Tracy hasn’t said anything to me, but I know because it’s my day.”

Although only 7-6, Perez is ninth in the league with a 3.25 earned-run average. Moreover, Perez has impressed recently.

“Big time,” Tracy said. “Not only to me but to his teammates and everyone.”

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Some players are concerned about how umpires in the playoffs might react to suspended outfielder Milton Bradley, who has been ejected four times this season.

“He’s got every umpire against him in the league,” pitcher Jose Lima said. “Umpires are like cops: they’re all together. It’s one family.

“You do something to one guy, you do it to all of them. They all call each other and they all talk. From now on, he has to be careful with everything he does out there.”