At least five runs in eight consecutive games.

That's not what the Dodger pitching staff has allowed. That's what the Dodger offense has scored.

Although only one Dodger starter has an ERA below 4.50 in September, although it's near-torture watching the likes of Scott Stewart or Mike Venafro pitch in a Dodger uniform, calm is in order.

Forget about St. Louis. Forget about Atlanta. Forget about Chicago or Houston or Florida or Philadelphia. For the remaining 19 games, the Dodgers need to outpitch only three other teams: San Diego, Colorado and San Francisco.

Here are the ERAs for these four teams - for all of 2004 and for September.

2004 Sept.
4.48 4.19 San Francisco
3.89 4.75 Los Angeles
5.65 5.38 Colorado
4.08 5.50 San Diego

The Padres, whose pitching the Dodgers should most fear, are having their own problems. Jake Peavy is the only Padre starter in September with an ERA below 4.50.

Has San Francisco found pitching after a season-long search? Well, the Giants' bullpen has improved, but like the Padres, San Francisco has only one starter below 4.50 in ERA this month - the mythical being that is Brett Tomko.

It's probably not a concidence that the Dodger offense has taken off while their teammates on the mound have stumbled. It appears the National League West, not just Los Angeles, is running low on pitching.

So as we evaluate the Dodger pitching, let's avoid doing so in a vacuum. An ERA in the neighborhood of 5.00 is nothing to shout about, but it isn't as bad as it usually sounds. It might well be good enough to get Los Angeles into the playoffs (a battle for another day). And there's also the possibility that Dodger arms will get healthier.

Dodger fans can reasonably hope so, anyway.