BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Secret Is Out: Nomo to Be Fifth Starter

Japanese pitcher Hideo Nomo arrived in this country seven weeks ago. He didn’t know anyone, was unable to speak the language and had no idea where he would be spending his summer.

But Saturday at Viera, Fla., Nomo proved that he belongs in the major leagues and is tentatively scheduled to start on May 2 against the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park.

The Dodgers refused to confirm their plans for Nomo after the 7-5 exhibition victory over the Florida Marlins, but it doesn’t really matter. The decision to make Nomo their fifth starter is the worst-kept secret in Florida.

“Let’s put it this way,” said Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda, grinning, “he’s got a very good chance. He can pitch in the big leagues with his equipment.”

The Dodgers also have decided that Ismael Valdes will be their fourth starter. He’s scheduled to make his first start next Saturday against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium. “We’ve got a good idea what we’re going to do,” Lasorda said of the pitching plans, “but it’s not etched in stone yet.”

The way Nomo has pitched this spring--going 2-0 with an 0.82 earned-run average--the Dodgers’ only difficult decision has been determining when he should make his first regular-season start.

The way the Dodgers figure it, starting Nomo on May 2 would give him time to become acclimated to major league surroundings. He’ll pitch on the Dodgers’ scheduled day off, April 27--either in a simulated game or in the minors--giving him five days’ rest before his debut.

In five innings Saturday, Nomo gave up four hits and two runs (one earned). He also had a sacrifice bunt in the second inning and perfectly executed a suicide squeeze in the fourth inning that scored Billy Ashley.

Nomo last batted in a game seven years ago when he was playing semipro baseball in the Japanese Industrial League. “It was really scary,” he said, laughing.

The feeling is mutual when the Marlins bat against Nomo.

“Hey, if he can get some movement on his fastball,” said Gary Sheffield, Florida’s All-Star right fielder, “he can be a 20-game winner. He’s got some nasty stuff. He has a good fastball, a great forkball and two types of curveball. He’s not a guy you like to face.”

Dodger catcher Mike Piazza said: “He’s getting more aggressive all the time. You can just see the difference in his confidence. Really, there’s no reason he can’t do what Fernando (Valenzuela) did. I’m telling you, it’s going to be something to watch.”

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The Dodgers are acknowledging for the first time that third baseman Tim Wallach might not be ready to play in the opener.

Wallach, who has bulging disks in his back, worked out Saturday but is not scheduled to play in today’s exhibition against the New York Mets. He has only four at-bats this spring.

The club is trying to avoid putting Wallach on the disabled list because he would be ineligible to play again until May 7, missing 10 games. Because teams are allowed to have an expanded roster of 28 players until May 15, the Dodgers may decide to carry Wallach.

Dave Hansen and rookie Ron Coomer will share third base if Wallach is put on the disabled list. Hansen is batting .200 with one home run and two runs batted in, and Coomer is batting .176 with one homer, three RBIs and a team-leading five errors in 46 innings.

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The lineup Saturday against the Marlins might indeed be the opening-day lineup Tuesday night: Delino DeShields 2B, Jose Offerman SS, Raul Mondesi CF, Mike Piazza C, Eric Karros 1B, Henry Rodriguez RF, Billy Ashley LF, Hansen 3B.

If Wallach can play, he will replace Hansen in the lineup, perhaps batting fifth and moving the remainder down a notch in the order.

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If the Dodgers are unable to trade shortstop Rafael Bournigal by opening day, they probably will release him. They simply have no room for him at the major league level after acquiring veteran Dick Schofield and ant to go with their young shortstops at triple-A Albuquerque. . . . The Dodgers had Tom Candiotti pitch in an extended spring game Saturday instead of against Florida. This will help keep the Marlins unfamiliar with his knuckleball when he faces them Wednesday night. Candiotti pitched five hitless innings, allowing four walks. . . . The series’ scheduled pitching matchups: The Dodgers’ Ramon Martinez vs. the Marlins’ John Burkett at 4:35 p.m. PDT Tuesday and Candiotti vs. Pat Rapp at 4 p.m. Wednesday. . . . Piazza committed a mental blunder in the second inning Saturday when he attempted to throw out Greg Colbrunn at second base on ball four to Charles Johnson. The ball sailed into center field, allowing Colbrunn to go to third base. . . . The Dodgers’ left-handed relief corps continues to struggle. Rob Murphy hit the only batter he faced, left-handed hitting Darrell Whitmore, before being pulled from the game.