The Dodgers open a four-game series in Pittsburgh Monday night as Chad Billingsley takes the mound against Jeff Karstens and the Pirates. The Dodgers have lost each of their last four series, including a weekend trip at Citi Field in New York against the Mets. The Dodger offense has struggled mightily of late.
Since scoring 27 runs in three games at Wrigley Field two weeks ago, the Dodgers have scored just 32 runs in 12 games. They have hit .242/.302/.338 during that time with seven home runs. Both the Dodgers and Pirates have struggled scoring runs this season, as the Pirates are 12th in the National League in runs scored (3.76 per game) and the Dodgers are 13th (3.63).
Billingsley is 1-0 with a 1.98 ERA in his last four starts. Karstens started the season in the bullpen, but since joining the rotation is 1-1 with a 5.14 ERA in four starts. The Pirates have won two straight and five of their last seven games. The Dodgers are just 2-5 during the last two seasons at PNC Park.
For more news and information on the Dodgers, or on tonight's game, be sure to read the SB Nation blog True Blue LA.