Billingsley, Dodgers Look For Repeat Performance Against Giants

The Dodgers and Giants put on quite a pitching duel last night, and both teams will look for more of the same tonight, as Chad Billingsley will face Jonathan Sanchez. This will be Billingsley's first start since signing a three-year contract extension earlier this week. As much as Dodgers fans don't like the idea of facing Buster Posey and the growing stable of young talent accumulated in San Francisco, I doubt Giants fans much like the idea of Clayton Kershaw and Billingsley at the front of the Dodger rotation through at least 2014.

In Billingsley's career, he has made 15 starts against the Giants. He has allowed three or fewer runs in 13 of those 15 starts, and hasn't allowed more than that since 2007. Last year alone, Billingsley allowed five runs (only three earned) in five starts against San Francisco. Billingsley has two career shutouts, and both are against the Giants, and both are at Dodger Stadium. In fact, here are Billingsley's last five home starts against SF:

Notes

• Jonathan Sanchez, coming off a stellar season last year (13-9, 3.07 ERA, 4.00 FIP, 3.94 xFIP), had success against the Dodgers as well, at least later last season. After 10 straight starts of not lasting more than five innings against the Dodgers (and a 6.25 ERA in 11 starts against LA up to that point), Sanchez threw two seven-inning gems against the Dodgers last September, striking out 21 total batters while allowing just two runs (one earned).
• Matt Kemp last night singled and walked three times. He is the only Dodger, at least since 1919, to walk three times on opening day.
• Kenny Landreaux, the centerfielder for the 1981 World Series winners, will be signing tonight at Autograph Alley at Dodger Stadium before the game
• Jordin Sparks will be singing the national anthem tonight.

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Game Time: 7:10 p.m.

TV: Prime Ticket