The Los Angeles Dodgers open a weekend series against the Atlanta Braves Friday night at Turner Field, looking for their fifth win in a row and 10th win in their last 11 contests. Chad Billingsley gets the start for the Dodgers, looking for his first win since August 5. Brandon Beachy toes the rubber for Atlanta.
Billingsley is 10-10 on the season with a 4.08 ERA, but has been mostly up and down this season. He had a rough three-start stretch in late July and early August that saw him give up 14 runs in 16 innings, but has rebounded of late. Billingsley has a 3.48 ERA in his last three starts, but doesn't have a win to show for it, but the ERA alone doesn't tell the whole story.
On August 21 in Colorado, the Dodgers' bullpen was taxed to the point that first baseman James Loney warmed up in the bullpen prior to the game just in case he was needed in an emergency. Billingsley gave up five runs that day at Coors Field, but also lasted through 7 2/3 innings. In his last start, Billingsley allowed four runs and threw a ton of pitches early, but ended up completing six innings, throwing 123 pitches to do so.
Billingsley has 17 strikeouts in 20 2/3 innings over those last three starts, an improvement from the previous three outings. He is pitching on five days rest Friday, and in that situation this year he is 6-3 with a 3.40 ERA in 13 starts.
The Dodgers beat the Braves three our of four games in Los Angeles in April, with Beachy getting the only Atlanta victory. Beachy threw six scoreless innings on April 19 at Dodger Stadium for the win. On the season, he is 7-2 with a 3.31 ERA.
Friday night's 4:35 p.m. PDT game will be televised by Prime Ticket. For more news and information on the Dodgers, be sure to read True Blue LA.