Unpredictable Ishii Replaced by Alvarez

The unsettled Dodger rotation underwent another change Saturday as Wilson Alvarez replaced the erratic Kazuhisa Ishii.

A day after Ishii went only 2 1/3 innings in a 7-6 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals, Manager Jim Tracy said Alvarez would take Ishii’s turn and start Wednesday against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium.

Ishii had responded with strong performances in a five-start stretch after almost having been removed from the rotation in early August, but Friday failed to pitch at least five innings for the ninth time in 28 starts. This time, Ishii is out.

“What we want is predictability,” pitching coach Jim Colborn said. “Ishii can spin you an unbelievable game, he’s got a couple of shutouts this year and a couple of complete games, but we want the consistency that Wilson brings.”

Alvarez has a 43.82 earned-run average in his last two starts. He has not started since having been chased Aug. 27 in the second inning of the New York Mets’ 9-2 victory at Shea Stadium.

Alvarez, 7-5 with a 4.10 ERA, pitched 3 1/3 innings Friday in relief of Ishii, who leads the staff in victories at 13-7 and has a 4.75 ERA. Although the left-handers have swapped jobs, Ishii is not expected to play as prominent a role in the bullpen as Alvarez has the last two seasons.

Because of Ishii’s command problems, the Dodgers are uncomfortable using him as a situational left-hander down the stretch. Ishii probably will be relegated to long relief until the Dodgers clinch the National League West title.

And assuming the Dodgers qualify for postseason play, Ishii might not be included on the roster for the division series. General Manager Paul DePodesta is expected to intensify his efforts to trade Ishii, who has a limited no-trade clause, after the season.

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Hideo Nomo pitched well in two starts against the Arizona Diamondbacks after a two-month layoff while on the disabled list. The right-hander faces a bigger test today against the Cardinals.

Colborn expressed confidence Nomo is ready for the challenge.

“To me, it’s already a given that he can perform well against them,” Colborn said. “Whether or not he does is a product of other things like making good pitches, his concentration, determination and luck.

“But there’s no question that his stuff can perform against any major league team. I don’t have any doubts about that.”

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Brad Penny threw 56 pitches in a bullpen session.... St. Louis third baseman Scott Rolen, who suffered a strained left knee Friday, sat out Saturday’s game and might not play today because of a strained left calf, the Cardinals said.