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Phillies-Dodgers Preview

Jul 7, 2015 - 8:07 AM One night after a Los Angeles Dodgers hitter faced his former team for the first time, a Philadelphia Phillies pitcher will get to do the same.

After struggling in his return from the disabled list, Chad Billingsley would appear to have a stiff challenge in his attempt to beat the Dodgers with a red-hot Brett Anderson trying to add to his own comeback story Tuesday night.

Jimmy Rollins, the Phillies' all-time hits leader with 2,306 in 2,090 games, went 2 for 4 with the go-ahead two-run single and scored two runs in his first matchup against them since asking for a trade in December, a 10-7 victory Monday. Yasmani Grandal hit a three-run homer while helping send Philadelphia to its 10th loss in 12 games and 16th in 19 road contests.

Billingsley (0-2, 7.71 ERA) is next on the reunion tour and will face the team he won 81 games for in eight seasons before undergoing a pair of surgeries on his right elbow. The Dodgers (47-37) declined to pick up his option in October, and he was signed by the Phillies (28-57) to a one-year deal in January.

On May 5, the right-hander made his first major league start in 25 months, a 9-0 loss in Atlanta, and went back on the disabled list two weeks later because of a strained right shoulder.

He gave up seven runs and 10 hits in five innings in his return Thursday against Milwaukee, but avoided the loss when the Phillies rallied to force extra innings in an 8-7 defeat.

"He's struggling because he's coming back from issues that he's had. I thought he threw OK, but it's a work in progress," interim manager Pete Mackanin said.

Billingsley - seeking his first win since April 10, 2013 - will not only face a team that had 15 hits in the opener but also have to pitch opposite Anderson (5-4, 3.00), who is in the midst of a stirring resurgence.

Like Billingsley, the Dodgers left-hander endured a Tommy John surgery - in 2011 - along with foot, finger and back ailments since winning 11 games as a rookie with Oakland in 2009.

He's been in magnificent form lately, going 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA in his last three starts, and gave up one run in seven innings while fanning seven in a 4-3 win in Arizona on Wednesday.

"He's been a godsend," catcher A.J. Ellis told MLB's official website. "I don't know where we'd be without him as our No. 3 (starter), and at times he's been a No. 1 or 2."

Anderson will face Philadelphia for the first time and only two Phillies hitters have seen him previously, Ben Revere (1 for 6) and Andres Blanco (1 for 1).

The Dodgers' Howie Kendrick, batting .452 (19 for 42) in his last 10 games, is 4 for 11 (.364) against Billingsley. Rollins is 9 for 26 (.346) including the playoffs.

Philadelphia's Cesar Hernandez is hitting .468 (22 for 47) in a career-best 11-game hit streak.