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Sunday Options Not Too Promising

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Times Staff Writer

Map out the Dodgers’ starting rotation for the next week or so and it’s obvious why the front office pursued David Wells so aggressively, albeit unsuccessfully.

Hong-Chih Kuo will make his first major league start Friday against the New York Mets and two days later the Dodgers must choose between three unattractive options for the series finale.

Do they go back to left-hander Mark Hendrickson (1-7), who was shelled by the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday?

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Do they give another chance to veteran right-hander Aaron Sele, whose storybook season has unraveled in the second half?

Or do they give left-hander Eric Stults his first major league start five days after he gave up three runs in three innings of relief in his debut?

“We’re undecided right now,” Manager Grady Little said.

Something the Dodgers have determined is that Elmer Dessens and Brett Tomko won’t come out of the bullpen. At least not yet.

Dessens made 110 starts from 2000 to 2003 with Cincinnati and Arizona and was an effective spot starter for the Dodgers last season. Tomko was a starter most of his career and spent the first three months of this season in the Dodgers rotation before moving to the bullpen.

Little said he would not start Derek Lowe on three days rest Sunday. With an off day Monday, Lowe will get an extra day’s rest instead, pitching Tuesday at Chicago.

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Julio Lugo has campaigned for playing time since being acquired from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, yet he hasn’t done much with the at-bats he has gotten. After going hitless Wednesday, he is batting .219 as a Dodger while playing five positions.

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He batted .308 as the everyday shortstop with the Devil Rays

“You can’t forget the role change he’s gone through here,” Little said. “I don’t think it’s a matter of pressing. He’s full of energy. He’s being asked to do things he’s not accustomed to doing, and it’s tough.”

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Stults was honored just to meet Jerry Reuss, the former standout pitcher and a member of the Dodgers’ broadcast team.

But when Reuss told the rookie left-hander he had taken a photo of his first major league pitch Tuesday, Stults was nearly speechless.

“That was so thoughtful,” Stults said.

Reuss carries a camera with him everywhere he goes, and prides himself on getting shots of memorable moments.

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Chad Billingsley threw 75 pitches on flat ground for the second day in a row and reported no pain in his side. He could pitch a bullpen session over the weekend and make a start next week.... The Dodgers nominated Eric Gagne for the Clemente Award, given annually to a player devoted to the community.... Spanish language broadcaster Pepe Yniguez flew to L.A. because his wife, Margarita, was diagnosed with a brain tumor and will have surgery later this week. Jaime Jarrin will work alone until Yniguez returns.

steve.henson@latimes.com

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