Chad Billingsley, Bobby Abreu, and Dodgers Look for Win at Wrigley

Chad Billingsley (2-1, 2.64) vs. Paul Maholm (2-2, 6.20)

Lineup:

Gordon SS

Mark Ellis 2B

Kemp CF

Ethier RF

Rivera LF

Loney 1B

Hairston 3B

A.J. Ellis C

Bills P

There is breaking Dodger news coming out this morning. Bobby Abreu, the former Angel, has reportedly been signed by the Dodgers. Abreu has been spotted at Wrigley Field in uniform, and he is available off the bench for today’s game. He will be wearing number 33. Details of his deal are still yet to be released, but it is reported that Justin Sellers was optioned back to AAA to make room for Abreu on the roster. This is very concerning to me, because there is very little coverage at shortstop now. Other than Dee and Uribe, there is no one else that can really fill in at short. Hairston hasn’t played the position at all this season. I’m pretty bummed, since I really do like Justin Sellers. We will keep you updated as more information comes in.

After a disappointing series loss to the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, the Dodgers look to regroup and regain their momentum in the windy city of Chicago. We will have to fight the ivy and the seagulls as well. The Cubs have a 9-16 record and sit in last place in the NL Central division. The Dodgers are 17-8 and currently sit atop the NL West. They will enter the three-game series at Wrigley with Ronald Belisario now at their disposal in the bullpen in place of Mike MacDougal. Dougie was designated for assignment yesterday to make room for Belisario.

In other baseball news, yesterday Mariano Rivera tore his ACL in his knee after he twisted and injured it catching fly balls in batting practice in Kansas City. The 42-year old is the all-time saves leader in MLB. He will most likely be out for the whole season, and the status of his career is up in the air. This is a big blow to the Yankees since Rivera-a future Hall of Famer-is an integral icon of the franchise. Mariano usually shagged fly balls in center field before games, and he hoped to start in center field sometime during the last stretch of his career. What a crushing way to go out.

Chad Billingsley will go to the mound for the Dodgers in hopes of picking up his third win of the season. Other than the catastrophe in Houston, Bills has

Chad Billingsley has pitched well for the Dodgers this season, and he looks for his third win. Photo: Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE

pitched very well thus far. Last time out versus Washington, Billingsley pitched 7 innings and allowed one run on five hits while whiffing six Nationals.  In his career against Chicago, Bills is 4-3 with a 3.19 ERA. Most of the current Cubbies have not had that many at bats against Chad. Ian Stewart and Alfonso Soriano have seen Bills the most, and neither have had any luck against the right-hander. At Wrigley Field, Bills has a 2-2 record with a 2.55 ERA in four games started.

The Cubs will counter with Paul Maholm, a left-hander. Maholm’s first two starts off the season were horrendous, but he bounced back and in his last two starts he is 2-0. Last time out against Philadelphia, he only allowed them one run. He’s had a rough time against the Dodgers in his career, and he is 0-5 with a 5.33 versus the Boys in Blue. Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, and Juan Rivera are all hitting over .300 against him, and Jerry Hairston Jr. has hit two homeruns against Maholm in the past.

The game will be on at 11:20 am and televised on Prime Ticket. Stay tuned after the game for our postgame recap. Go Blue!

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