Dodgers Vs. Cardinals: Ted Lilly Starts Opener At Dodger Stadium

The Los Angeles Dodgers return home Friday night to host the St. Louis Cardinals in a battle of division leaders at Dodger Stadium. Ted Lilly gets the start for the Dodgers, looking for his sixth win of the year. Lance Lynn, who already has six wins for St. Louis, is his mound opponent.

Lilly is 5-0 so far with a 2.11 ERA this season, and has continued a turnaround that really began last August and continued through a healthy winter for the left-hander. Lilly since the beginning of August 2011 is 10-4 with a 2.10 ERA in 17 starts.

Catcher A.J. Ellis, who has reached base via hit or walk in 26 straight games and ranks third in the National League with a .462 on-base percentage, said on Thursday that he looked forward to the weekend series in Los Angeles.

"They are probably as strong a test as we've seen this year. They're the defending world champions," Ellis said. "It's a good showcase for the Dodgers to show everybody what we've been doing and that we're for real."

The Dodgers are 16-4 at home this season and at 25-13 have the best record in baseball.

Friday night's 7:10 p.m. PDT game will be televised by Prime Ticket. For more Dodgers news and notes, be sure to read True Blue LA.