Chad Billingsley Feared Out for Season

There is just over a month left in the baseball’s regular season, so let me preface this piece by stating that anyone who comes up injured, even slightly, between now and September 15 has an excellent shot at missing the rest of the season. Pitchers are probably much more likely to take extra time to come back.

Still, when the team in question is the Los Angeles Dodgers, losing a guy like Chad Billingsley seriously cripples their chances of making it to October.

Billingsley left his last start, last Friday, due to soreness in his elbow. The next day he was placed on the disabled list with inflammation. The hope is that he would be ready to return when his 15-day stint on the DL is up, but team president Stan Kasten didn’t sound so sure.

Billingsley has been solid overall this season, posting a 10-9 record and 3.55 ERA in 25 starts. Over his last six, however, he’s been dynamite, going 6-0 with a 1.30 ERA in that span. The Dodgers have added Joe Blanton and Josh Beckett to the rotation this month and reportedly continue to be on the lookout for starters.

For more on the Dodgers, see Lasorda’s Lair.