DODGERS NOTEBOOK: DAAL MAY STAY IN STARTING ROLE.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

PHILADELPHIA - Dodgers manager Jim Tracy is proving he will use hot players over the season's final six weeks with his decision to play Alex Cora more at shortstop. His next major decision could involved the pitching rotation.

Since the All-Star break, left-hander Omar Daal has been the Dodgers' best pitcher statistically. And when Kevin Brown returns from injury, likely in the next two weeks, it's not cut and dried that Daal will move back to the bullpen.

``What's best for the club?'' Tracy said Sunday after Daal allowed two runs in 6 1/3 innings in a 4-3 win against Philadelphia. ``It's August, and as you go along and a guy continues to give you performances like that, you will cross that bridge when you come to it, but when you do come to it, you will analyze that situation and ask what's best for the ballclub.''

Since the break, Daal is 2-1 with a 3.20 ERA. Hideo Nomo is 1-2 with a 3.86 ERA. Andy Ashby is 0-3 with a 5.16 ERA, but he's allowed two earned runs in 13 innings spanning his last two starts.

Meanwhile, Odalis Perez is 0-3 with a 5.01 ERA since the break, but he already missed one start because of mental fatigue. Kazuhisa Ishii is 1-2 with a 5.86 ERA and has allowed 13 earned runs in his last 7 2/3 innings.

If Daal continues to pitch well, Perez or Ishii could be shifted to the bullpen. Perez already has a career high in innings pitched and Ishii, on pace for 33 starts, has never made more than 30 in a season.

``I just want to do my job,'' Daal said. ``I don't think about Kevin Brown. I'll be happy when he comes back. It's not that I don't want to think about what happens. Every time they give me the ball, I'll try to do my job.''

Tracy ruled out any possibility of using a six-man rotation.

--Brown update: The rehabbing Brown checked out fine in Los Angeles, a day after he made 50 pitches in his first rehab outing for Triple-A Las Vegas.

The Dodgers will announce plans for Brown's next rehab start today, but the club is targeting Friday in Edmonton. General manager Dan Evans will watch Brown's outing. Tracy said Brown could throw as many as 80 pitches.

If all goes well in that outing, Brown could pitch in the Aug. 16-18 series in New York. The Dodgers are leaning away from starting Brown in Montreal before the series against the Mets because they want to keep his surgically repaired back off Olympic Stadium's ultrahard turf.

Tracy said he wants Brown to be able to pitch at least six innings in his first start when he rejoins the Dodgers.

--Gagne ruling due shortly: Dodgers closer Eric Gagne isn't expected to be fined or suspended stemming from his ejection Thursday in Cincinnati and Bob Watson, vice president of on-field operations for baseball, could make that official today.

Watson said he would ``strongly follow'' the advice of vice president of umpiring Ralph Nelson, who recommended to Watson that Gagne not be suspended or fined.

``I don't anticipate any further punishment,'' Tracy said. ``I'm very hopeful of that. I did not see Eric Gagne blatantly bump the guy. I know I didn't see that because I was running real hard up there and so I didn't really see a bumping at all.''

--Izturis sits again: For the third consecutive game, shortstop Cesar Izturis found Cora's name in the starting lineup and himself on the bench. The reason is the switch-hitting Izturis is batting .197 from the left side and .288 from the right side, and Tracy is seeking more offense.

Izturis previously said he might stop batting left-handed after the season, but Tracy said he would discourage such a move.

``If they want me to switch hit, I'll switch hit. If they want me to hit from the right side, I'll hit from the right side,'' Izturis said. ``I'll do whatever they want me to do.''

DODGERS vs. PHILADELPHIA

Time: 10:05 a.m., Veterans Stadium.

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net 2; 1150-AM, 1330-AM (Spanish).

Matchup: The Dodgers conclude their season-high 13-game road trip by sending their most consistent pitcher, RH Hideo Nomo (11-6, 3.31 ERA), against Phillies RH Brandon Duckworth (5-8, 4.88). Nomo is 9-2 with a 3.02 ERA in his last 15 starts, of which the Dodgers won 12. He is 7-5 with a 3.38 ERA in 16 starts against the Phillies. Duckworth allowed one run in seven innings in beating the Dodgers last season, but he is 0-3 with a 5.90 ERA in his last five starts.

- Brian Dohn

CAPTION(S):

box

Box:

DODGERS vs. PHILADELPHIA (see text)