Penny’s status tops pitching questions

Like poker chips after several poor hands, that once-imposing stack of effective Dodgers pitchers suddenly is getting alarmingly short.

Shoulder stiffness kept Brad Penny from starting against the New York Mets on Wednesday night. Left-hander Hong-Chih Kuo took the ball instead and looked lost, walking four, throwing three wild pitches, allowing Jose Reyes to steal three bases and surrendering two runs in three innings of a 6-2 loss at Holman Stadium.

It was the second poor outing in a row for Kuo, whose quest to fill the No. 5 spot in the rotation is rapidly becoming a longshot.

Elmer Dessens was next, giving up three runs and raising questions about his seemingly secure bullpen berth because veteran Rudy Seanez has made a strong push. Left-hander Tim Hamulack was sloppy as well.

“I’m very concerned,” Manager Grady Little said. “With a number of people out there, there is a lot of assuming going on, maybe way too much assuming that they are going to make the club.”

The Dodgers downplayed the absence of Penny, who has been mostly healthy since a biceps nerve injury in 2004.

He felt a twinge in the front of his shoulder during a bullpen session Monday, but an MRI exam showed no structural damage.

“If this was the regular season, I wouldn’t miss it,” he said of the start. “It’s a little stiff and I don’t want it to get any worse.”

Penny hasn’t pitched well, posting a 12.86 earned-run average in three starts, giving up 17 hits and six walks with two strikeouts in seven innings. He hasn’t pitched against hitters since March 16 when he went five innings in a simulated game.

“We’re probably being overcautious, but we can afford that with the time we have,” Little said. “If it doesn’t bother him in his last two starts, he should be good to go for the regular season.”

Making inquiries

Larry Bigbie is hedging his bets, asking his agent to check into other teams that have interest if the Dodgers don’t have room for him on the roster.

Bigbie drove in a run with an infield single against the Mets and is batting .366 with 12 runs batted in and two home runs.

Offensive woes

The Dodgers have lost four in a row, scoring three runs in 36 innings.... Outfielder Jason Repko played for the first time since pulling a groin March 10 and ran at full speed.... Andy La Roche, normally a third baseman, played left field for the second time this spring. He was hitless, dropping his average to .195.

steve.henson@latimes.com