The Dodgers open up a three-game series Monday night against the National League West division-leading Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco. Chad Billingsley gets the call for the Dodgers in the opener, against All-Star Ryan Vogelsong for the Giants. The strange thing is, Vogelsong could have been a Dodger this winter. Per Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle:
The Giants didn't call Vogelsong right away. The Dodgers did, and made him an offer. Vogelsong asked [Giants' minor league catching instructor Guillermo] Rodriguez to contact the Giants again and relay this message, in essence: I don't want to be a Dodger. I am a Giant. If you want me, I'll sign for whatever you want to pay me.
Vogelsong, who hadn't pitched in the majors since 2006, is 6-1 with a 2.17 ERA in 16 games (14 starts) for the Giants this season. His peripherals have been solid as well, though maybe not "2.17 ERA" solid (3.77 tERA, 3.88 SIERA, 3.62 FIP, 3.76 xFIP, per FanGraphs).
Billingsley hasn't pitched since July 8, thanks to the All-Star break and a rotation shuffle by manager Don Mattingly. Billingsley has pitched eight innings in each of his last two starts, the first time in his career he has done that back-to-back, and over his last four starts has allowed four total runs, good for a 1.32 ERA with nine unintentional walks and 20 strikeouts in 27 1/3 innings.
The Dodgers are 4-5 against the Giants this season.
Tonight's 7:15 p.m. PDT game will be televised by Prime Ticket. For more news and information on the Dodgers, or on tonight's game, be sure to read the SB Nation blog True Blue LA.