Valdes Will Get First Start Monday

Pitcher Ismael Valdes will enter a tight National League West division race soon enough, but he had other work to do first.

The right-hander became reacquainted with former teammates Friday in his first day with the Dodgers after being reacquired Wednesday from the Chicago Cubs for two minor leaguers.

Valdes, who joined the club in Philadelphia, eagerly awaited beginning his second Dodger tenure after team officials dumped him in December because of questions about his desire. The Cubs did the same after only eight months.

Valdes wants to impress this time, and he expressed his commitment to several veterans before a 2-0 victory over the Phillies.

The Dodgers are counting on Valdes to bolster their rotation down the stretch and prove he’s not the same guy who formerly tried their patience. His first opportunity comes Monday against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Three Rivers Stadium.

How Valdes fares also will help determine his standing in the free-agent market after the season. Valdes acknowledges he has a lot on the line.

“It’s a very strange game, and you learn a lot through the years,” Valdes said. “This is the team that gave me my opportunity to be in the big leagues, and now they’re giving me an opportunity to be in a pennant race.

“I believe what happened in the past is already gone and buried in the past. It’s a new life and a new year and a new day. I don’t waste my time thinking of the past.”

However, Valdes did talk about the past with his teammates. He said he is determined to do his part to help the club qualify for the playoffs, adding he realizes he has been given a second chance.

“No one will care about the past as long as he comes in and pitches the way he’s capable of pitching,” left fielder Gary Sheffield said.

“The way this team is now, we expect everyone to do their job. We know he can help us because he has great stuff, but the bottom line is you have to go out and do it.”

The Cubs quickly grew tired of waiting for Valdes.

Manager Don Baylor, one of baseball’s all-time tough guys, was frustrated because of Valdes’ numerous nagging injuries. The Cubs hoped Valdes would anchor their staff this season, but he was 2-4 with a 5.37 earned-run average in 12 starts.

Trying to end recurring blister problems on his pitching hand, Valdes recently began making hand motions in a bucket of rice to strengthen his grip and toughen his skin. He said it would be unfair to judge him on his rocky Chicago experience because of that problem and others.

“This is my sixth year, I have a lot of years ahead of me,” said Valdes, 61-54 with a 3.38 ERA in his first Dodger stint. “I have a lot of confidence in myself and my stuff. Sooner or later I’m going to be a 20-game winner.”

The Dodgers predicted Valdes would bomb with the Cubs, and they could have gloated. Instead, they brought him back.

“Ismael has had most of his success with the Dodgers,” said Andy MacPhail, Cub president and interim general manager. “When he was out there [for the Dodgers], he was effective. That’s what made him [attractive] to teams in a pennant race.

“The Dodgers are in a pennant race, and they’re very confident that he’s going to go out there and do a good job.”

Tonight

DODGERS’

KEVIN BROWN

(10-3, 2.31 ERA)

vs.

PHILLIES’

CLIFF POLITTE

(1-2, 4.91 ERA)

Veterans Stadium, 4 p.m. PDT.

TV--Channel 5. Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330)

* Update--Brown had one of his best performances of the season Monday in a 4-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. The right-hander gave up only three hits and one run in eight innings. Brown, 6-4 with a 2.78 ERA against the Phillies, pitched seven innings May 26 in an 11-4 win at Dodger Stadium. Politte was recalled from triple A to start today because Paul Byrd is on the disabled list after suffering a shoulder injury.