Dodgers Starting Pitchers Come Up a Little Bit Short

The New York Mets had the superior offense. That was a given.

So, for the Dodgers to beat the Mets in the playoffs, the Dodgers would need superior pitching. But New York spotted the Dodgers two injured starters -- Pedro Martinez and Orlando Hernandez -- and still outpitched them.

And, in the wake of the Mets’ sweep in the National League Division Series, Dodgers Manager Grady Little had three more games to cite in his argument for making the pitching staff better by making the starting rotation better.

“First of all, we need to see what we can do about not needing so many innings out of the bullpen,” Little said.

Little would not say whether that improvement can come from within the organization or whether the Dodgers need to target free agency and trades.

“Whatever it takes,” he said.

When Joe Beimel cut his pitching hand on broken glass in a hotel bar on the eve of the series, the Dodgers were left with two trusted relievers, closer Takashi Saito and setup man Jonathan Broxton. If the starters could get the game to Broxton and Saito, the Dodgers liked their chances.

Derek Lowe, the Game 1 starter, couldn’t get out of the sixth inning. Hong-Chih Kuo, the Game 2 starter, couldn’t get out of the fifth. Greg Maddux, the Game 3 starter, couldn’t get out of the fifth. The three combined for a 6.59 earned-run average in the series.

Said Little: “This series was no different than a lot of our season. We went to the bullpen kind of early and asked those guys for a lot of outs.”

The Dodgers pitched one complete game this season. Lowe pitched that game, and he’s the only sure thing for next season.

Maddux? He’s good for 70 to 80 pitches at most these days, and he’s not sure whether he even wants to play next year.

“It’s tough to think about that now,” Maddux said. “I’m going to give it a few days. It’s easy to say right now you want to play, but we’ll see. My son wants me to play, and that helps.”

Brad Penny? He started the All-Star game but ended the season as a five-inning pitcher with occasional back trouble, and he is not beloved in the clubhouse. The Dodgers could trade him, with a contract that guarantees him $16 million over the next two years, and invest the savings toward a premium free agent such as Barry Zito or Jason Schmidt.

“I love it here,” Penny said. “Of course I want to come back.”

There are Chad Billingsley and Kuo, promising rookies. There is Mark Hendrickson, who made three scoreless appearances in this series, as a left-handed reliever in place of Beimel. The Dodgers traded for Hendrickson as a starter.

“I want to start,” he said. “That’s my preference.”

There is Brett Tomko, who agreed to move from the rotation to the bullpen this season and said he would discuss his 2007 role with club officials this winter.

“I think a lot has to do with if they re-sign Maddux and if they trade any of the starters,” Tomko said.

The bullpen is in flux too. Eric Gagne, who sat out most of the last two years because of injury, would like to return as closer but plans to test the free-agent market.

And Saito, who emerged from Japan and then the minor leagues to set a Dodgers rookie record with 24 saves, said he will not decide whether to return until after he consults with his family.

“All I asked my family for was a one-year opportunity to play in the United States,” he said through a translator. “I was able to do that. Now we’re about to begin a different conversation.”

He has said he would be willing to serve as Gagne’s setup man next season, but he suggested Saturday he is unlikely to work for the wages of a typical second-year player.

“That’s a conversation my agent will have,” said Saito, 36, who pitched 14 years in Japan before joining the Dodgers. “There are certain things I think were earned this year. I hope the Dodgers understand some of those things I’d like to work into next year’s contract.”

bill.shaikin@latimes.com