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Pirates look to cool down Dodgers

Sep 17, 2008 - 10:06 AM LA Dodgers (79-72) at Pittsburgh (63-88) 7:05 p.m. EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers can thank their starting pitching for the comfortable lead they have built in the National League West.

Los Angeles turns to one of its most dependable starters in Chad Billingsley when it takes on the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday.

Dodgers starters are 12-1 with a 2.36 ERA over the last 16 games, a stretch that has seen Los Angeles (79-72) win 14-of-16 and open a 4 1/2-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks (74-76).

Billingsley (15-10, 3.02) has won three consecutive starts and six of seven decisions in his last 10 starts. The 24-year-old has not allowed more than three earned runs in a start since July 8, spanning 12 starts.

Los Angeles, which has not allowed more than two runs in a game over their last seven, own the NL's lowest team ERA at 3.64.

Pittsburgh counters with Zach Duke (5-14, 4.84), who will be looking to avoid matching a career-worst with his 15th loss. The lefthander also lost 15 games in 2006.

Duke, 25, failed to follow up a superb start in his last outing when he allowed six runs - two earned - and six hits in 4 2/3 innings against the Houston Astros. He had one of his best performances, a six-hit, complete-game shutout against the San Francisco Giants, a 7-0 win on September 5.