With reliever Cory Wade due to come off the 15-day disabled list Thursday, Torre said Wade is the likely heir to the role. But Torre added that Wade would need to get back into the flow of pitching regularly in big-league games before he is given the job full-time. Until then, it appears the assignment will be doled out on a game-by-game basis.

Wade's most recent appearance before being sidelined by bursitis in his right shoulder was on April 11 at Arizona.

"Cory would be that guy," Torre said. "I also think I could flip-flop both him and (Ronald) Belisario. I'm not sure I want to do that with Cory until he is back awhile. But that would be ideal to do that, yeah."

The problem with Kuo is his history of arm problems. He underwent two Tommy John surgeries while still in the minor leagues, he missed most of 2007 with injuries to his shoulder and elbow, and he missed the final two weeks of last season and the first round of the playoffs with elbow soreness.

That basically prevents Torre from using Kuo in the way an eighth-inning setup man normally would be used. Torre is still reluctant to use Kuo in consecutive games, and one reason he didn't use him in Monday night's loss to the Giants was because of the cold weather.

DODGERS 5, GIANTS 3: Chad Billingsley gutted his way through 7 1/3 innings Tuesday on a night when he clearly wasn't at his best. He put himself in position for the win, but Jonathan Broxton blew a save for the first time in seven chances this season. Manny Ramirez then hit his third double of the game to lead off the ninth. Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp followed with a double and a triple, respectively, and Will Ohman pitched a perfect ninth for his third career save.