Tomko to start Sunday’s game

Standing behind his statement that he would give Brett Tomko every chance to pitch his way out of his funk, Manager Grady Little will start the embattled right-hander Sunday in the final contest of a three-game series in San Francisco.

Tomko, who has a 12.71 earned-run average in his last five relief appearances, will be taking Randy Wolf’s turn in the rotation. Wolf is recovering from a sore shoulder and can’t be activated from the disabled list until July 19.

By using Tomko on Sunday, the Dodgers pushed back Derek Lowe’s start by a day to Monday, when the Dodgers play host the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a three-game series. Left-hander Mark Hendrickson will pitch Tuesday.

Chad Billingsley will start for the Dodgers tonight against the Giants in their first game after the All-Star break. Brad Penny will pitch Saturday.

Tomko began the season as the Dodgers’ No. 5 starter, but a 1-5 record and 5.95 ERA in eight starts got him demoted to the bullpen. The right-hander has pitched even worse in relief, posting a 6.57 ERA in 24 2/3 innings. Opponents are batting .327 against him as a reliever.

Tomko, 1-7 with a 6.18 ERA overall, has been hit especially hard in his last five appearances, yielding eight runs and 15 hits in 5 2/3 innings.

He took the loss in a 6-5 defeat by Florida at Dodger Stadium last Friday, when he entered in the 10th inning and promptly gave up the winning run.

Little said Sunday that a start could provide Tomko with the necessary change of pace to get him back on track.

“We know it’s going to take something to get him turned around and headed back in the right direction,” Little said.

dylan.hernandez@latimes.com