Broxton May Be Coming Fast

CHICAGO —  The Dodgers just put one of their top minor league starters in the bullpen, and they might have uncovered a fireballing reliever.

He’s right-hander Jonathan Broxton, 22, who struck out 14 and walked none in winning his last two starts at double-A Jacksonville. The Dodgers moved him to the bullpen last week, and a fastball usually clocked at 93-95 mph suddenly jumped to 96-98 mph.

The move coincided with the potential season-ending injury to closer Eric Gagne, but the Dodgers are not counting on Broxton ascending to the Los Angeles bullpen as Yhency Brazoban did last season. Brazoban, who opened last year in the Jacksonville bullpen, ascended to triple-A Las Vegas on July 5 and to the Dodgers on July 31.

The Dodgers did not move Broxton to the bullpen at the request of another club that might be interested in trading for him, assistant general manager Kim Ng said. The Colorado Rockies, dangling starting pitcher Joe Kennedy, asked the Oakland Athletics for hard-throwing reliever Jairo Garcia. The Dodgers have some interest in Kennedy, but his last starts have been unimpressive.

The Dodgers have not decided whether Broxton will remain a reliever. He is 4-2 with a 3.33 earned-run average, with 73 strikeouts in 73 innings.

“All of our minor league starting pitchers will be spending a little bit of time in the bullpen this year in order to give their arms a rest and give them experience in the role,” General Manager Paul DePodesta said.

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Olmedo Saenz was surprised to hear that Manager Jim Tracy believes he is wearing down. He has never had more than 305 at-bats in a major league season, but he’s on pace for 438 this year.

“I’m feeling good,” he said. “I guess my body language is not that good, so it makes you see me run and it looks like something is going to break.”

Nonetheless, Tracy benched him Saturday, despite the Dodgers’ miserable offense and his .303 batting average and team-high .563 slugging percentage. Saenz had started the previous five games, going four for 19 with no extra-base hits, and Tracy said his bat speed has slowed.

“I think it’s very obvious,” Tracy said. “You can’t continually beat a guy down. If he doesn’t have his bat speed, he’s not the offensive player he’s programmed to be.”

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Shortstop Cesar Izturis, who has not played in a week because of tightness in his right hamstring, said he hopes to return tonight.... The Dodgers will miss San Diego’s top two starters in the series against the first-place Padres starting Monday. Jake Peavy starts today, and Adam Eaton is sidelined because of an injured finger.