The Los Angeles Dodgers have placed starting pitcher Chad Billingsley on the 15-day DL with pain in his right elbow. Billingsley's right elbow has been a source of frustration for Billingsley over the past year, as he only made eight starts after the All-Star Break last season due to an inflammed flexor tendon and a partially torn UCL in the elbow.
Going into the season, the Dodgers rotation was considered a strength, as they had eight starting pitchers going into the year. That supply has been whittled down to three right now, as Billingsley, Zack Greinke, Chris Capuano, and Ted Lilly are all on the DL, while Aaron Harang was been dealt to the Rockies (and ended up in Seattle). Lilly is expected to come off the DL to start for the Dodgers against the Mets on Wednesday. The status of Capuano is much less clear after he underwent an MRI on Friday and received a platelet-rich plasma injection.
Los Angeles' rotation is now made up of ace Clayton Kershaw, Josh Beckett, Korean import Hyun-Jin Ryu, and Stephen Fife, called up from AAA Albuquerque to start Sunday's game in Baltimore.
In two starts and 12 innings pitched this year, Billingsley has a 3.00 ERA and has struck out six while walking five. His velocity has been fine in comparison to prior years, so there might not be any new structural damage there. However, whenever a pitcher has pain in his throwing elbow, there should definitely be some concern surrounding him.
