Lowe, Maddux to Work on Short Rest, but Not Yet

With their margin for error diminishing by the day, the Dodgers plan to use their two most reliable starting pitchers as often as possible.

Just not quite yet.

“There will be a time before the end of the season that Derek Lowe and Greg Maddux will go on short rest,” Manager Grady Little said. “Now is not the time.”

Lowe and Maddux have a history of effectiveness pitching on three days’ rest because they are less likely to overthrow their signature sinkers. Brad Penny isn’t a candidate because he’s a power pitcher who needs four days between starts to maintain the velocity on his fastball.

The lack of a clear choice to start Sunday’s series finale against the Mets makes Lowe an intriguing possibility. Little, however, is reluctant, pointing out that the right-hander pitched three innings of relief in a 16-inning game 10 days ago.

“He’s done a lot the last two weeks,” he said. “We’re not going to push somebody and risk hurting him.”

The thought persists, however. Immediately after Lowe’s outstanding performance Wednesday, Little said he absolutely would not consider bringing him back Sunday. But a day later Little said starting Lowe “is an outside possibility.”

Meanwhile, Little told rookie left-hander Eric Stults to be ready for the start. The Dodgers believe the powerful Mets lineup can be somewhat neutralized by left-handed pitching. That’s why Hong-Chih Kuo is starting tonight and why Stults is almost the certain choice for Sunday.

Right-hander Aaron Sele also is available, and Little doesn’t have to tell him to be ready. As a 16-year veteran, Sele already has thought his way through the various scenarios.

“He’s going to pick who he wants to have the ball,” Sele said. “I’ll be ready if it’s me, and if it’s not me, I’ll pull hard for whoever is out there.”

Sele probably would lack stamina because he has made only one start in the last five weeks. And in that start, he pitched four strong innings before hitting a wall and giving up five runs in the fifth.

“Any time you take a long time off it will reduce your arm strength,” Sele said.

The only certainty is that left-hander Mark Hendrickson (1-7), who has been repeatedly shelled, will not start any time soon.

“He’ll work out of the bullpen a couple times and try to get back on track,” Little said.

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Rookie right-hander Chad Billingsley felt no discomfort in his left side after two days of throwing on flat ground and a red-eye flight from Milwaukee, increasing the likelihood that he would start next week.

“I feel like it will be completely healed in a few days,” he said.

Billingsley, who was 3-0 with a 1.50 ERA in August, hasn’t pitched since Aug. 27 because of the nagging injury, which was aggravated during the team flight from L.A. to Milwaukee on Sunday. He is scheduled to pitch to Dodgers batters before Tuesday’s game at Chicago.

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Jaime Jarrin was given clear instructions by owner Frank McCourt: Make sure Jarrin’s Spanish language broadcasting partner, Pepe Yniguez, knew the Dodgers would spare no expense in getting the best possible care for his wife.

Margarita Yniguez had surgery to remove a brain tumor Thursday and doctors said the procedure went well.

“Pepe is very appreciative of the outpouring of concern from Frank and Jamie McCourt and the entire Dodger family,” Jarrin said.

steve.henson@latimes.com

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Down the stretch

The teams left on the schedule for the Dodgers and Padres, with their records against those teams:

*--* Dodgers G Rec San Diego G Rec New York 3 1-3 San Fran. 3 6-10 Chicago 3 1-2 Cincinnati 3 2-1 San Diego 4 3-11 Dodgers 4 11-3 Pittsburgh 3 5-2 Arizona 7 5-7 Arizona 3 8-7 Pittsburgh 3 2-1 Colorado 3 12-4 St. Louis 3 2-1 San Fran. 3 10-6 Total 40-35 Total 28-23

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