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.