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Dodgers eye pitching rebound vs. Nationals

Jul 25, 2008 - 10:08 AM Washington (38-64) at LA Dodgers (49-52) 10:40 pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- After seeing their pitching staff roughed up by the Colorado Rockies, there may be no better time than the present for the Los Angeles Dodgers to play host to one of the worst offenses in the majors.

The Dodgers hope to rebound from a disappointing end to their first post-All-Star break road trip on Friday when they face the Washington Nationals.

Despite going 3-3 against National League West-leading Arizona (50-51) and third-place Colorado (45-58), Los Angeles left Coors Field with questions about a pitching staff that surrendered 25 runs as the Rockies took two of three.

Despite the recent struggles, Los Angeles still sports a 3.81 team ERA, the best mark in the NL.

If any pitcher is up to the challenge, it figures to be Chad Billingsley (9-9, 3.32 ERA), who leads the team in wins. However, the righthander took the loss in Saturday's 3-2 loss to Arizona after allowing three runs and seven hits over 5 2/3 innings.

For Billingsley, who has been afforded 59 runs of support in his 20 starts, it marked the ninth time LA has provided with one run of support or less in an outing. However, he may catch a break against the Nationals, who are the second-lowest scoring team at 386 runs.

He'll be opposed by John Lannan (6-9, 3.29), who has received less help. The lefthander has been provided with a league-low 37 runs in 19 starts. He did receive three runs over his six innings of work in Saturday's 8-2 win over Atlanta. Lannan allowed one run and seven hits.