DODGERS NOTEBOOK: NOMO WILL MISS HIS NEXT START.

Byline: Rich Hammond Staff Writer

Hideo Nomo, the most consistent and arguably most valuable member of the Dodgers' outstanding group of starting pitchers, will miss his next start because of inflammation in the rotator cuff of his pitching shoulder.

Team management believes Nomo's injury, described as a ``lack of power'' more than any type of pain or weakness, is a minor one and will be solved by extra days of rest. A MRI taken Wednesday revealed the inflammation but nothing more serious.

Nomo is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Sunday and, if all goes well, would return to the rotation Tuesday in Arizona. Monday's off day will allow the Dodgers to keep their rotation intact without starting anyone on short rest. Nomo refused interview requests before Wednesday's game.

``If they say it's only inflammation, that's probably a good thing,'' pitching coach Jim Colborn said. ``That goes away with rest and medication, that's my understanding.''

Nomo, who did not look sharp last week in Houston, allowed four runs (two earned) on nine hits in five innings Monday, then after the game told Colborn his fastball lacked its normal speed.

``Not so much weakness, just, `I don't have any power. No power,' '' Colborn said. ``(I asked,) `Does it hurt?' `No, it doesn't hurt. Just a tired arm'

``In fact, the Japanese writers said, `It's a little unusual that Nomo would come to his coach and say something specific.' And in my experience with him, that is unusual, that he would express any complaints. I think it's a real mature evaluation and the right thing to do.''

Entering Wednesday's game, Nomo's 200 1/3 innings pitched were the second-highest total in the National League this season. Nomo triggered a $9 million option on his 2004 contract, which was tied to innings pitched, by making it through the fifth inning Monday. He is 15-11 with a 2.88 ERA.

``It's very obvious that what we saw the other night is that he didn't have his great velocity,'' manager Jim Tracy said. ``There's no disputing that fact.''

--Ashby out: Andy Ashby underwent an MRI on Wednesday that revealed inflammation of the ulnar nerve in his pitching elbow. Ashby, who last week was bumped from the rotation in favor of Wilson Alvarez, will not pitch for the next six or seven days.

--Welcome back: Catcher Paul Lo Duca, who suffered a sprained jaw Monday night, returned to the lineup after missing Tuesday's game. Lo Duca wore the larger, hockey goalie-style mask in order to protect his jaw, which had been hit by foul tips four times in the previous week.

--Cy or MVP? Tracy has spent the past couple of weeks touting Eric Gagne as a leading candidate for the National League Cy Young Award, and while Gagne has mostly distanced himself from the discussion, he suggested there might be a more appropriate award.

``I would say the MVP is more for the relievers than the Cy Young,'' Gagne said. ``A player who is out there every day is more of a most-valuable candidate. To be a starter and throw 200 innings, that's more of an indication of being the best pitcher. The MVP is more of an everyday guy.''

The next record in sight for Gagne is the single-season saves record of 57, set by Bobby Thigpen of the Chicago White Sox in 1990.