TONIGHT’S GAME

DODGERS’ TOM CANDIOTTI

(10-5, 3.28 ERA)

vs.

ASTROS’ DARRYL KILE

(17-6, 2.42 ERA)

Astrodome, 5 p.m.

TV--Channel 5. Radio--KABC (790), KWKW (1330).

* Update--For a guy who started the season as the No. 6 pitcher in a five-man rotation, who was sent to the bullpen after years as a starter, whose name came up in several trade rumors, Candiotti has to scratch his head at the role he finds himself in: a Dodger stopper at age 40. When ace right-hander Ramon Martinez went out because of a tear in the rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder in mid-June, it was Candiotti who filled the role. Candiotti has been consistent during a period when inconsistency has been the rule for the Dodger staff. And now, he is asked to stop a four-game losing streak at a time when the Dodgers’ slide has taken them out of the top spot in the National League West. It won’t be easy against Kile, winner of 10 in a row, who has the third-lowest earned-run average in the league, four shutouts and six complete games.