The Phillies announced yesterday that Jamie Moyer would pitch on short rest tonight against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Now they need a starter for Sunday.

Kyle Kendrick remains a possibility, but the odds are stacked against him. He is 1-4 with an 11.35 ERA in his last six starts, and it would be risky to put the baseball in his hands with just 13 games to play.

"At this point in the season, I don't know about that," pitching coach Rich Dubee said when asked if he thinks Kendrick can regain his form. "It's an awful lot to ask of a kid that is struggling."

Other possibilities include pitching Brett Myers on short rest or using lefthander J.A. Happ or righthander Adam Eaton. Myers has pitched on three days' rest just once in his career, but Dubee said the idea isn't crazy. Myers sounds like he wants the ball, too.

"I'll pitch tomorrow. I don't care," Myers said. "If it gets us to the playoffs, whatever it takes."

Happ had an 8.49 ERA in his final three starts for triple-A Lehigh Valley, but Dubee said that doesn't concern him. Of course, Eaton's poor seven-start performance in the minors isn't reassuring.

"I wouldn't say that it paints a pretty picture," Dubee said. "But if push comes to shove, we're going to use anybody to help us win."

The Phillies have kicked around using a four-man rotation whenever possible the rest of the season.

"We'll see," Dubee said. "Three-man rotation. Two-man rotation. What did they have? Spahn and Sain and pray for rain?" - a reference to the line associated with Warren Spahn, Johnny Sain and the Braves of the late 1940s.

Eaton's take

In seven combined starts for single-A Lakewood, double-A Reading and triple-A Lehigh Valley, Eaton went 0-4 with a 7.02 ERA.

"I wasn't told to go down there, win a bunch of games, and have a low ERA," Eaton said. "I was told to go down there to work on my command, and I think I did that. I swallowed a big pill to accept the option and seeing the results of that is a little tough."

But Eaton also said he isn't owed anything because he signed a three-year, $24.5 million contract before the 2007 season.

"I've been a good soldier my whole career," he said. "I'm not going to start saying things that shouldn't be said. Yeah, I'm frustrated. I want to pitch. But at the same time, it's not my place. It's not up to me. Just because I signed a contract, it doesn't mean I have any right to anything."

Where is Carrasco?

One of the team's best options for Sunday is in Venezuela.

Righthander Carlos Carrasco went 2-2 with a 1.79 ERA in six starts for Lehigh Valley after a promotion from Reading, where he appeared in 20 games (19 starts). But the Phillies sent him home after the season, because they had no plans to pitch him out of the bullpen and didn't figure he would have a chance to start. The Phillies don't regret that decision.

"We're happy with the guys we have," assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "If there's a change to be made, we have the personnel to do that, I think."

Manuel said that Carrasco's name came up in discussions throughout the season, but that he never formally requested Carrasco join the team Sept. 1. Carrasco is expected to pitch winter ball in Venezuela and will compete for a starting job next spring.

Moyer ready to rock

Moyer (13-7, 3.64 ERA) has pitched on short rest 17 times in his career, but 10 of those starts came after relief appearances or after he threw just two innings.

In the seven starts he made on three days' rest after legitimate starts, he is 3-0 with a 2.83 ERA.

"It's not an issue or a concern," Moyer said. "Just go out and pitch. I'm here, you know? I'm trying to do my job the best that I can. If it's on short rest, so be it. I feel fine."

Gordon throws

A source said yesterday that righthander Tom Gordon, who has been on the disabled list since July with an elbow injury, threw off flat ground without pain Tuesday at the Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Fla.

The chance that Gordon pitches again for the Phillies remains very remote, but should he continue to progress, he potentially could be available in the postseason.

Extra bases

The Phillies activated outfielder Geoff Jenkins from the disabled list. He has been out since Aug. 23 with a strained right hip flexor. . . . Infielder Andy Tracy is out for the season after he broke the fifth metacarpal on his left hand during batting practice Tuesday. . . . The Phillies broke the three-million (3,001,943) mark in attendance in their 71st home game, the fastest they have reached that mark.

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Contact staff writer Todd Zolecki at 215-854-4874 or tzolecki@phillynews.com.

Read his blog at http://go.philly.com/phillieszone.