Perez Might Return to Rotation Sunday

While Odalis Perez is tentatively scheduled to make a fourth rehabilitation start for triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday, Manager Jim Tracy said there is a possibility the left-hander could skip it and instead start Sunday at Dodger Stadium against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Perez is all for it.

“I don’t want to go to Las Vegas,� Perez said with a wide grin. “I want to pitch here.

“I’m tired of watching my team on TV. I’m a baseball player.�

Tracy said Perez was on target to throw 75-80 pitches for the 51s.

“If I’m good enough to throw 70, 80, 90 pitches [at Las Vegas], I can do it here,� said Perez, who last pitched Saturday.

“When I pitched in Tucson [for the 51s], they wanted me to throw 60 to 65 pitches. I threw 64 in 4 2/3 innings but I could go longer.�

Perez, on the disabled list since May 15, is 0-0 in Las Vegas with a 6.52 earned-run average in 9 2/3 innings and has given up 13 hits. He has struck out six and walked three.

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Regardless of what happens with Perez, Tracy said rookie right-hander D.J. Houlton would not be skipped in the rotation despite an off day Thursday and would remain the Dodgers’ No. 5 starter for the time being and start again “Sunday or Monday.

“He’s been given an opportunity and he’s taking advantage of it,� Tracy said of Houlton, who is 4-1 with a 4.30 ERA in five starts in June. “His poise is what really jumps out at me.... The kid’s got moxie.�

Houlton, a Rule V draft pick from the Houston Astros on Dec. 13, was taken aback when Tracy sang his praises.

“To get that kind of compliment from the manager, that’s real nice,� Houlton said. “It builds confidence and shows what I’m doing is being recognized. Hopefully I can keep going out there and doing it.�

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In disabled list news: Jose Valentin is wearing a brace on his injured right knee and should take ground balls today.... Wilson Alvarez (left shoulder) played long toss Tuesday.... Ricky Ledee (hamstring) was still feeling the effects of a shot in the leg on Monday and is shut down until Friday.... Milton Bradley (finger), who had a setback Monday, did not take batting practice swings and Tracy said there were no plans to have another examination.