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Perez, Billingsley square off in series opener

May 5, 2008 - 2:06 PM NY Mets (16-13) at LA Dodgers (17-14) 10:10 pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) - When Chad Billingsley and Oliver Perez are going right, they are among the most prolific strikeout artists in the game. When they are off, however, opponents can count on a fair share of free passes.

The Dodgers eye a strong start from Billingsley on Monday against Perez and the New York Mets when the teams open a three-game set at Dodger Stadium.

Billingsley (1-4, 5.20 ERA) has struck out 37 batters over his last four starts, but is just 1-3 in that span primarily due to his inability to keep his walks down, as he has issued 13 in that time.

However, the righthander picked up his first win of the season in Wednesday's 13-1 rout of the Florida Marlins. Billingsley overcame four walks, yielding just one run and three hits with eight strikeouts over seven innings.

Much like his pitching counterpart on Monday, Perez (2-2, 4.03) has struggled with control issues, although poor defense hampered him in his second straight loss in Wednesday's 13-1 setback vs. Pittsburgh. He recorded just five outs but was charged with seven runs - just two earned - and five walks in his second consecutive loss.

The lefthander, who has twice finished among the leaders in the National League in strikeouts in his seven-year career, is also among the league leaders in walks allowed with 21 despite having pitched just 29 innings this season. Perez has walked four or more batters in each of his last three starts.