The Los Angeles Dodgers are reeling, having lost five straight contests, and in desperate need of a win. They turn to Chad Billingsley Sunday, trying to avoid a four-game sweep at the hands of the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals, who have outscored the Dodgers 29-9 in the first three games of the series, will counter with Chris Carpenter.
Both starting pitchers have struggled of late. Billingsley got a win in the second game of the season for the Dodgers, but has allowed nine runs in eight innings over his last two starts, pushing his record to 1-1 on the season with a 7.71 ERA. Billingsley also had a 7.07 ERA after three starts last season, then proceeded to finish the year 12-11 with a 3.57 ERA. Carpenter is 0-2 with a 5.82 ERA in three starts, and allowed eight runs in four innings in Arizona in his last start on Tuesday.
Dodgers' relief pitcher Vicente Padilla will begin a rehab assignment Sunday with the Class A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. Padilla is expected to throw 25 pitches this afternoon. Andre Ethier has a 13-game hitting streak, the longest in MLB this season. Today's 1:10 p.m. PDT game will be televised on Prime Ticket.
For more news and information on the Dodgers, or on today's game, be sure to read the SB Nation blog True Blue LA.