DODGERS NOTEBOOK: PEREZ TO GET SOME MUCH-NEEDED REST.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

SAN DIEGO - Believing Odalis Perez was wearing down mentally and not wanting to overburden his surgically repaired pitching arm, the Dodgers reshuffled their rotation Tuesday and will give the young left-hander nine days off.

Perez, who went 9-3 with a 2.09 ERA before going 1-4 with a 7.31 ERA in his last five starts, won't start again until Aug. 1 in Cincinnati. Perez leads the staff with a career-high 144 1/3 innings pitched and he's made a career-high 21 starts.

``This is a 23-year-old kid that has never pitched this many innings before that's out there in some unchartered waters,'' Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said. ``Keeping in mind that he's had a Tommy John surgery, this is the right thing to do.''

The decision is hardly shocking considering Perez said Friday he could use time off to recharge and refresh. That need became more apparent after he allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits in five innings in Monday's 5-2 loss to San Diego.

That outing was (highlighted?) by a pair of mental blunders in which he failed to back up third on a triple and didn't cover first on an infield single. The latter led to two runs.

``I would say it's good for my arm,'' Perez said of the rest. ``It gives me a chance to relax. For me to come in and start for 26, 30 or 32 games, that's a lot because I have never been through that. I would say this year, this is what I have to learn. It's a learning process. For me to go out there, I know sometimes I'm going to have a tough time, but you learn.''

Tracy said shift in the rotation is possible because the Dodgers are off Thursday and Monday, and it won't put a burden on the rest of the starters.

In fact, the rest of the rotation was revamped so Andy Ashby, Kazuhisa Ishii and Omar Daal will each get an extra day of rest. Ishii pitches today's series finale with the Padres. Hideo Nomo, Daal and Ashby will pitch the weekend series in San Francisco. Ishii, Nomo and Perez will pitch in Cincinnati and Daal, Ashby, Ishii and Nomo will throw in Philadelphia.

--Dreifort's ailing knee: Dodgers right-hander Darren Dreifort, on the disabled list since last July because of elbow surgery, was scratched from a simulated game because of a sore right knee. The club didn't want him to continue out of fear it would affect his mechanics and strain his arm. He will be examined today in Los Angeles by team physician Dr. Frank Jobe.

``There's a hundred things inside of a knee,'' Dreifort said. ``I don't think it's that serious.''

Dreifort had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in 1990 and again after the 1999 season. He was on target to go on a rehab assignment within two weeks, but that is uncertain.

--Grudzielanek scratched: Second baseman Mark Grudzielanek, who's batting .372 since the All-Star break, was scratched from the lineup because of a muscle strain in his left lower back. He took muscle relaxants and received treatment throughout the game. He will be re-evaluated today, but it's unlikely he will play with the Dodgers having Thursday off.

``When he walked out there, he could bend over, but by the end of the game, he could touch his toes,'' Dodgers trainer Stan Johnston said. ``I'm not really expecting him (to play tomorrow) because it's a day game. If it was a night game, I'd give him a chance.''

DODGERS vs. SAN DIEGO

Time:2:05 p.m., Qualcomm Stadium.

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

Matchup: The Dodgers conclude their three-game series by sending LH Kazuhisa Ishii (12-5, 3.31 ERA) against Padres RH Bobby Jones (6-5, 4.73). Ishii allowed two hits in six shutout innings in beating San Diego earlier this season. He is 1-0 with a 1.32 ERA in two starts since the All-Star break. Jones lost his only start against the Dodgers this season and is 1-1 with a 1.93 ERA in two games since the break.

- Brian Dohn

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DODGERS vs. SAN DIEGO (see text)