Dodgers Activate Chad Billingsley, Option Josh Wall

The Dodgers activated Chad Billingsley from the 15-day disabled list on Monday, as expected, in order for him to start the series opener in St. Louis against the Cardinals. Monday was the first day Billingsley was eligible to return from the disabled list, as he last started on July 7 in Arizona.

Billingsley was scratched from his start on July 15 amid elbow soreness but thanks to the timing of the All-Star break the right-hander missed just one start.

Stephen Fife was called up from Triple A for one day last Tuesday to make his major league debut, allowing one run in six innings against Philadelphia in place of Billingsley.

To make room for Billingsley, the Dodgers optioned relief pitcher Josh Wall to Triple A Albuquerque, just one day after making his major league debut. Wall pitched a scoreless 11th inning on Sunday against the Mets, becoming the first Dodgers pitcher to pick up a win in relief in his major league debut since Tim Belcher on September 6, 1987.

Wall had been on the active roster for eight days and seven games before he saw action.

"Being here for a few days got me settled down, got the nerves settled down, and got the butterflies out of the way,"
Wall said after Sunday's game.

Billingsley had a pair of MRI exams last week that showed right elbow inflammation but nothing more, and he was able to throw a bullpen session on Friday in New York.

Billingsley has lost each of his last five starts, and though he has allowed just one home run and five walks with 29 strikeouts in 29 innings during that span he has a 6.21 ERA.

Starting Lineups

Game Time: 5:15 p.m.

TV: Prime Ticket

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