The Los Angeles Dodgers look to snap their two-game losing streak on Monday night as they host the Philadelphia Phillies for the start of a three-game series at Dodger Stadium. But while the game itself will be news in its own right, the story Monday will be the condition of Chad Billingsley's elbow.
Billingsley was scheduled to start on Sunday against San Diego, but was scratched on Saturday night after complaining of elbow soreness, a condition he said that has bothered him for several starts. Manager Don Mattingly was disappointed that Billingsley didn't disclose the soreness earlier.
"I know why they do it but I'm trying to get the point across that don't let something get big. They think they know," Mattingly said. "We could have given him almost two weeks off. It could have been behind us."
An MRI showed elbow inflammation for Billingsley, who will undergo more tests on Monday.
The Dodgers' rotation depth is already thin as it is, with Ted Lilly still yet to begin a minor league rehab assignment for his left shoulder inflammation and nothing of note on the 40-man roster behind number six starter Nathan Eovaldi (1-5, 4.21 ERA), who starts Monday night against Philadelphia, his ninth start of the season. John Ely, who was in line to start Tuesday for Triple A Albuquerque, appears to be the favorite to fill the currently vacant rotation spot on Tuesday.
Even before news of Billingsley's elbow malady, the Dodgers were reportedly in the mix to acquire starter Ryan Dempster from the Chicago Cubs.
Joe Blanton (7-8, 4.98 ERA) starts for the Phillies, who have won two straight after dropping 11 of 12 games.
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