NewsBillingsley returns to hill for Dodgers
Los Angeles (70-49) vs. St. Louis (68-52), 7:10 p.m. PT
By David Ely / MLB.com
08/18/09 2:23 AM ET
LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers' starting rotation is about to get a much-needed shot of stability. After missing one start because of a strained left hamstring, right-hander Chad Billingsley will be back on the mound Tuesday against the St. Louis Cardinals. "He feels real good," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said after his club's 3-2 loss Monday night. "He's excited about starting, and we're certainly in need of him." Billingsley injured his hamstring Aug. 7 running down the first-base line after singling in the bottom of the sixth against the Braves. This injury followed up a start on Aug. 2 in Atlanta when Billingsley had to exit after five innings because of a cramp in his right hamstring. But now Billingsley's left leg feels fine, and he's happy to be starting again. "I'm glad to be back out there," Billingsley said before Monday's game. Billingsley successfully threw bullpen sessions on back-to-back days without any ill effects and has gone through agility drills to make sure he's ready for the start. Once he gets on the mound Tuesday, Billingsley will look to rediscover the touch he demonstrated during his last two starts. Billingsley lasted a combined 11 innings and allowed just one earned run on six hits in those two starts against the Braves. "I'm just going to go out there and pick up where I left off and hopefully come out of it healthy," Billingsley said. To do so, Billingsley will have to shut down a lineup that shelled him for six runs in one inning on July 28 in St. Louis. "They've got a tough lineup all the way down," Billingsley said. "[Matt] Holliday, [Albert] Pujols and [Ryan] Ludwick. It's not an easy trip through that lineup." Pitching matchupLAD: RHP Chad Billingsley (11-6, 3.73 ERA)
Billingsley will be pitching for the first time in 11 days. The right-hander suffered a slight hamstring strain coming out of the batter's box on Aug. 7 and was skipped Wednesday. He received a platelet patch injection and reported significant improvement. Billingsley will be facing the Cardinals, a team he shut out on one hit for the first five innings on July 28 in St. Louis before the roof caved in on him with a six-run sixth inning. STL: RHP Mitchell Boggs (1-1, 3.78 ERA)
Boggs is start-to-start at this point, though it's worth noting that the Cardinals aren't thrilled with any of their other options. And Boggs, after a rough beginning in his most recent outing, got things together and lasted six decent innings. That's all he really needs to do as the No. 5 man -- get through six innings or so and keep the game close. With four other starters cranking out good games, Boggs doesn't need to be a world-beater. Tidbits
After a 3-2 loss Monday, the Dodgers have lost a season-high four straight games at home, their longest home losing streak since May 7-11, 2008. ... The Dodgers are 23-23 at home since they began the season 13-0 at Dodger Stadium. ... With catcher Russell Martin's eighth-inning throwing error, Los Angeles snapped its season-high streak of 85 2/3 consecutive error-free innings. ... Right-hander Charlie Haeger recorded his first career big league quality start on Monday when he allowed three runs in seven innings. Tickets
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• Wednesday: Dodgers (Clayton Kershaw, 8-7, 2.91) vs. Cardinals (Adam Wainwright, 14-7, 2.62), 7:10 p.m. PT
• Thursday: Dodgers (TBD) vs. Cubs (Tom Gorzelanny, 5-2, 5.24), 7:10 p.m. PT
• Friday: Dodgers (Randy Wolf, 7-6, 3.43) vs. Cubs (TBD), 7:10 p.m. PT
David Ely is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
