(Sports Network) - Two All-Star pitchers from a year ago square off this afternoon when Chad Billingsley and the Los Angeles Dodgers wrap up their three-game series against Dan Haren and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.
While Billingsley made his first All-Star appearance last season with Haren pitching in the game for the third time, neither figures to hear their name called on Sunday when the National League rosters are unveiled for this season's Mid-Summer Classic.
Billingsley is winless in his last four starts and is 6-4 on the season with a 4.25 earned run average, while Haren hasn't won in his last three outings and is 7-6 with a 4.56 ERA.
Billingsley returned from a short stint on the disabled list Monday and pitched well against the San Francisco Giants, but did not get a decision, despite allowing two runs and five hits in six innings of his team's 4-2 win.
"It was great to get back out there," said Billingsley. "I was kind of amped up and couldn't find my tempo and rhythm early, but I was able to settle down. The double plays are great and allowed me to get some quick innings."
The 25-year-old righty has faced the Diamondbacks 18 times (16 starts) and is 8-5 against them with a 3.83 ERA.
Haren also went without a decision his last time out on Monday against the St. Louis Cardinals, as he surrendered five runs (three earned) and 10 hits in eight-plus innings of the 6-4 loss.
He tossed eight scoreless innings the last time he pitched against the Dodgers and did not get a decision. Haren is just 4-5 lifetime versus them with a 3.35 ERA in 14 games, 13 of which have been starts.
The Dodgers evened this series at a game apiece on Saturday, as Rafael Furcal continued hit hot hitting, homering and driving in three runs, and the Dodgers took advantage of an Arizona-record six errors, five in the first three innings, to crush the Diamondbacks, 14-1.
James Loney had three hits and scored twice, while Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier each went deep for the Dodgers, who won for the fourth time in five games. Furcal, who upped his average to .338, recorded his seventh straight multi-hit game.
Clayton Kershaw (8-4) surrendered four hits, walked two and struck out eight over 5 2/3 innings to win for the fourth time in his last five decisions.
Incredibly, eight of LA's runs were unearned and that was helped by three errors from Arizona shortstop Tony Abreu and two miscues from first baseman Rusty Ryal.
Rodrigo Lopez (4-7) gave up six hits and nine runs -- only two earned -- over a 3 2/3-inning appearance and had a two-start winning streak snapped.
"I thought we rebounded very well," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. "Kershaw struggled a little bit, he gets the two strikes, but he had trouble putting people away. Offensively, we were good tonight."
The Dodgers have had their way with the Diamondbacks this season, winning nine of the 11 meetings, including four of the five matchups in Arizona.