Penny Is ‘Ready’ to Return

DENVER — Pitcher Brad Penny remained on track to rejoin the rotation next week after facing batters Friday for the second time in three days.

Penny threw 50 pitches in three innings in a simulated game before the opener of a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, clearing his final hurdle to be activated from the disabled list.

“I didn’t put as much effort into this one because of only two days’ rest,” Penny said, “and I’m hoping next time out I’m in a game.”

The Dodgers were pleased.

“What we saw was exactly what we wanted to see,” Manager Jim Tracy said. “He was very good.”

Penny, sidelined almost six weeks because of a nerve problem in his pitching arm, is expected to start Wednesday against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Tracy declined to confirm the team’s plan for Penny but strongly intimated that the right-hander would return to the mound Wednesday for the first time since he was hurt Aug. 8 in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Dodger Stadium.

“Suffice it to say, he will show up some time next week,” Tracy said. “The likelihood would be that we would like him to have the full complement of rest after what he’s done, which would take you to around that day.”

Hideo Nomo’s regular turn would occur Wednesday. Tracy said he and pitching coach Jim Colborn might prefer to give some starters an extra day of rest in the final two weeks of the season, and using Penny would enable them to accomplish that goal.

Penny probably would be limited to about 70 pitches or three innings whenever he starts, so the Dodgers might have another starter ready behind him.

Wilson Alvarez is most suited for the job. Kazuhisa Ishii, recently demoted to the bullpen, could provide another option.

Penny said he’s eager to return to work.

“I’m ready,” he said. “No question.”

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Pitcher Jose Lima, who took a line drive off his right thumb Tuesday, has been scratched from a start Sunday against Colorado because a CT scan revealed a hairline fracture.

The Dodgers said they were hopeful the right-hander’s thumb would heal if he missed one turn in the rotation.

Rookie right-hander Edwin Jackson is scheduled to start in the final game of the series.