It’s clear that Schmidt is still not up to speed

With each toss at Dodger Stadium, the velocity and pitch selection is posted on the left-field board. On Saturday, those tasked with that duty probably had a tough time deciding the latter for Jason Schmidt’s pitches.

With his changeup dragging only three or four miles behind his fastball, Schmidt topped out at 88 mph for a second consecutive start for the Dodgers.

Schmidt battled, stranding six runners in the first four innings, but Manager Grady Little pulled him after Reggie Willits singled in two runs in the fifth. Schmidt threw 4 2/3 innings, giving up three earned runs and walking four.

“I didn’t really care for the way that inning was going and I didn’t want to see the game get out of hand right there,” Little said.

Little said there was concern over Schmidt’s start, and pitching coach Rick Honeycutt said Schmidt is unable to locate his slider and curveball.

“We aren’t seeing Jason Schmidt,” Honeycutt said. “We are only seeing part of him. Today was encouraging at times and he showed better stuff than in his last start, but it’s still not him at 100%.”

Schmidt said he is physically fine, but unable to pinpoint his problem on the mound.

“There’s no consistency with anything,” Schmidt said. “Obviously, I’d like to be a lot stronger than where I’ve been. I felt a little bit more free and easy in this start, but it’s a work in progress.”

After sitting out much of the season because of bursitis in his throwing shoulder, Schmidt made only one rehabilitation start.

He pitched six shutout innings against San Diego on June 5, giving up one hit with his fastball in the low 90s. But on Saturday and in his previous start against Toronto, his fastball resided in the mid-80s.

In between those starts, Honeycutt said Schmidt mildly changed his pitching session routine, throwing more long toss and less in the bullpen.

“I feel like we’ll continue to run him out there and see if he can get it going and build up his strength and stamina,” Little said.

Schmidt, in the first season of a three-year, $47-million contract, has one win as a Dodger -- his first start of the year, against Milwaukee on April 4.

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It hasn’t been a good start to the Bill Mueller hitting coach regime.

In the two games since the Dodgers fired Eddie Murray, the team has scored two runs in 17 innings, and is 11 for 59 against the Angels.

“We aren’t going to sit here and ... see immediate results overnight,” Little said. “Give us a week or so.”

Nomar Garciaparra and Jeff Kent each rested for the second time in a week, both times after a night game.... Little used a left-handed-dominated lineup against right-hander Jered Weaver. Russell Martin was the only Dodgers right-handed hitter who started with Rafael Furcal, Wilson Betemit and Tony Abreu all switch-hitting.

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jonathan.abrams@latimes.com