Thumb Injury Sidelines Lima; Jackson to Start

DENVER — Things haven’t gone well for Edwin Jackson since Manager Jim Tracy surprisingly said in January that the rookie right-hander would be the fifth starter.

Today, Jackson is scheduled to start for the first time since July 8 -- replacing Jose Lima, who was scratched because of a hairline fracture in his right thumb -- and he hopes to finish the year on a positive note.

“It’s been up and down,” said Jackson, the organization’s 2002 minor league pitcher of the year. “I’m just trying to put the last five months behind me.

“You just look at what’s going on right now. You can’t dwell on the past. It’s gone and you can’t change it. You have to take all the positives from it and keep going.”

Jackson, 21, went 1-3 with a 9.28 earned-run average in spring training and opened the season at triple-A Las Vegas.

Although he also struggled for the 51s, having gone 5-2 with a 5.13 ERA, the Dodgers recalled Jackson in June because Wilson Alvarez had a hip strain. Jackson was sidelined from July 9 until Sept. 7 because of a strained right forearm.

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Hideo Nomo might have made his last start for the Dodgers.

Tracy removed the struggling right-hander from the rotation a day after Nomo lasted only 1 1/3 innings in an 8-6 victory in 10 innings Friday against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

In his last two starts, Nomo failed to complete four innings. He gave up 14 hits and 12 earned runs.

Tracy said Nomo, a starter throughout his 10-year career in the major leagues, and before that in five seasons in Japan, would work out of the bullpen for the remainder of the season.

Although Nomo briefly showed signs of regaining speed on his fastball after a lengthy rehabilitation and throwing program and stint on the disabled list, the Dodgers could no longer leave him in the rotation with the division race undecided.

“His first couple of starts against Arizona, his velocity had risen back up to 88, 89 and we saw 90s,” Tracy said. “His velocity on his fastball is starting to come back in the other direction.

“As a result, they hit his split. It’s unfair to send this guy out there with as valiant an effort as he has made.”

Nomo, 36, is 4-11 with an 8.25 ERA in 18 starts. He has a salary of $9 million in the final year of his contract.

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Tracy made it official, saying Brad Penny would start Wednesday against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.

Tracy and pitching coach Jim Colborn expressed optimism that Penny, who last pitched in a game Aug. 8, could throw as many as 80 pitches.

“I just want to get back out there and try to help the team,” Penny said.

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Lima said he expected to return to the rotation to start Saturday against San Francisco at SBC Park.

“I’ll be back, bro, believe me,” Lima said. “I’ve just got to give it a little rest.”

The Dodgers might turn to Jackson or Elmer Dessens if Lima cannot pitch.