Bills and Streaking Dodgers look for Sixth Straight Win

Wade Miley-3-1 vs. Chad Billingsley-2-2

The Dodgers will end an eight game home-stand and two game set tonight with the second game against the Arizona Dbacks. Of course we will see the Dbacks again when we visit Arizona for a three game series next week.

The Dodgers looking for their sixth win in a row will be playing their second game without MVP candidate Matt Kemp. Bison was put on the DL with a strained left hamstring, after re-aggravating it on Sunday running to first base on a ground ball. Jerry Sands was called up to take his place on the roster. As for the Dodgers, they will have to play on without him. Somehow each day finding a way to survive and score enough runs to keep their heads above water until he returns. Tonight we will get a chance to see some of the Dodger youngsters, as Scott Van Slyke makes his first career start in right field and batting third. Andre Ethier will make his first career start in center field tonight. This should be interesting. Jerry Sands gets penciled into left field and will bat seventh, and thank god Sellers is playing third base.

Benny Sieu-US PRESSWIRE

Some more good pitching wouldn’t hurt either. Tonight they will face rookie lefty Wade Miley. He is the young lefty who took Daniel Hudson’s spot in the rotation since he has been out with an injury. Miley has pitched in seven games and started four. He has done well in his short playing time. He is 3-1 on the season with a 2.76 ERA. His last start was a loss to the Cardinals, in which he allowed three runs on ten hits through 5.2 innings of work. Miley has only faced the Dodgers a couple of times in relief. The only Dodger to have more than a couple of at-bats against him is Mark Ellis, who’s only hit off Miley is a home run.

The Dodgers will counter with Chad Billingsley. In Bills last start he sucked something awful. He had allowed two runs, and four walks through four against the Giants before being hooked for a pinch-hitter in the fourth inning. Bills was upset and angrily slammed his bat down in the dugout. Of course you can’t blame Mattingly for taking him out. He was awful, and it seems like we just never know what kind of performance we will get from Billingsley from one start to the next.

Bills is 2-2 with a 3.32 ERA. Chad is 10-7 with a 3.60 ERA in his career against Arizona. The biggest threat against Bills in the past from the Arizona offense is Catcher Miguel Montero, who is hitting .344 off of Bills in 34 at-bats with a home run and three RBIs. Only Aaron Hill, and Justin Upton are the only other snakes with homers against Bills. Tonight Dodger legend and former Cy Young, and World Series MVP Orel Hershiser, the Bulldog will be honored tonight with his own bobblehead. Orel will also throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Other Dodger legends will be on hand tonight including Tommy Lasorda, Fernando Valenzuela, Steve Sax, Steve Yeager, Tommy Davis, and “sweet” Lou Johnson.

Tonight’s game is televised on KCAL 9 at 7:10PM. Can the Dodgers keep on rolling? Will the Dodgers find a way to score runs without Matt Kemp? We’ll find out soon enough Dodger Fans. Let’s keep those snakes in the grass for one more day. Go Blue.