BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Team Gets Word on 3-Way Tie

The Dodgers cleared up some confusion Wednesday when they called the National League office to determine their playoff fate:

If the Dodgers, Rockies and Houston Astros finish the season with the same record, the Dodgers and Rockies will play a one-game playoff Monday in Denver, and Houston automatically qualifies for the playoffs.

If the Dodgers and Rockies tie for the division title, and the Astros are eliminated from the wild-card race, the Dodgers will win the division title based on their 8-4 record against the Rockies before Wednesday’s game. They will play host to the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, and the Rockies will play host to the Atlanta Braves.

If the Dodgers and Astros tie for the wild-card berth, they will play a one-game playoff Monday in Houston. The winner will play host to Atlanta beginning Tuesday.

*

After having listened to critics all season who say they have underachieved and should have already clinched a playoff berth, the Dodgers defended themselves, saying they have played to their full potential.

“I believe we have played to our capabilities,” said Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president. “There’s a lot of talent on the [Colorado] Rockies, just as there has been in the rest of the division. The situation we’re in . . . we can control our own fate, and that’s all you can ask for.”

Said catcher Mike Piazza: “I don’t see where we’re such an underachieving team. I don’t see a lot of experience in that room. The core of the team hasn’t been through it before.”

Said left fielder Roberto Kelly: “It’s not that we’re playing that bad, but those guys [the Rockies] are that good.”

*

The Dodgers privately are concerned about Hideo Nomo, scheduled to start Saturday against the San Diego Padres. Scouts who attended his last start Sunday said his fastball was clocked consistently between 75 m.p.h. and 80 m.p.h.--10 m.p.h. slower than normal.

“He says he’s fine, he’s healthy, and his arm feels good,” said Dave Wallace, Dodger pitching coach. “You just have to hope it was one of those games.”

Nomo has pitched 183 1/3 innings this season, nearly 70 innings more than last year.