Billingsley to Make Fourth Start

Starter Chad Billingsley will make his fourth start this spring and thus far has given up just one run in 7.0 innings pitched (1.29 ERA). The Ohio native has also fanned six batters while walking just one. Recently, Billingsley was notified that he will be inducted into the Defiance High School Athletic Hall of Fame in May.

Billingsley pitched for Defiance from 2000-2003 and in his senior year, went 6-1 with a 1.49 ERA and 113 strikeouts in just 56.0 innings. The Opening Day starter candidate also tossed a 5.0 inning-perfect game and struck out 19 batters in a contest while at Defiance. If Billingsley gets the call on Opening Day, he will toe the rubber against San Diego in a mere 24 days.      

Following Chad Billingsley to the mound will be RHP James McDonald, RHP Jeff Weaver and RHP Cory Wade, who will be making his 2009 Cactus League debut.

TEXAS TWO-STEP: The Dodgers will face the Texas Rangers in the second of three meetings in the Cactus League this spring. Los Angeles battered Texas on Monday, winning 13-7 and the two clubs will meet for the final time this month on March 22 at Camelback Ranch – Glendale.  

MANNY REWIND: After being a late scratch yesterday due to tightness in his hamstring, Dodger outfielder Manny Ramirez is ready to make his 2009 Cactus League debut this afternoon as the designated hitter.    

MEN ABOUT TOWN: The Dodgers have been getting the lay of the land around the West Valley and last night several players made a short road trip to Cricket Wireless Pavilion in Phoenix to catch the Rascal Flatts/Jessica Simpson show. Among those singing their hearts out were pitcher Clayton Kershaw, infielder Blake DeWitt, outfielder Jason Repko, video ace Paul “Eagle” Hawkins, and connoisseur of all things Nashville, Mark Rogoff.  

CHANGES IN LATITUDES: Dodger pitcher Jonathan Broxton and the United States’ squad is gearing up to play Round 2 of the World Baseball Classic as the scene shifts from Toronto’s SkyDome to sunny Miami’s Dolphin Stadium. The U.S. plays Puerto Rico tomorrow night in Pool 2 action. So far, Broxton has appeared in two games, tossing a scoreless inning in both contests, while fanning three. Dodger infielder Luis Maza and the Venezuelan team are the top seed in the Pool 2 bracket and are set to play the surprising Netherlands team tomorrow. Maza is 0-for-3 in two games. The semi-finals and finals of the World Baseball Classic will be played at Dodger Stadium from March 21-23 and tickets can still be purchased by going to dodgers.com.

NO BREAKUP WITH THIS “X”: Dodger outfielder Xavier Paul is hitting .406 (13-for-32) with a team-leading 13 hits and 23 total bases. Paul is tied for third among all Grapefruit and Cactus leaguers with 10 RBI, just ahead of infielder Blake DeWitt, who has nine. Infielder Juan Castro is batting a team-best .524 (11-for-21) while being tied for the most doubles in all of baseball with five. Castro leads the Dodgers with nine runs scored and a .905 slugging percentage.

BIRDS AND “B’S”: The Dodgers will take on the White Sox in a “B” game tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m. on the White Sox replica Field #1.  Scheduled to pitch are LHP Eric Stults and LHP Scott Elbert.

  SLAM DUNC: The Dodgers’ would like to extend a Happy Birthday to first base coach Mariano Duncan, who turns 46 today. Duncan is in his fourth season as a Major League coach for Los Angels after collecting more than 1,200 hits as a player from 1985-1997. The native of the Dominican Republic enjoyed parts of four seasons in Los Angeles from 1985-87 and 1989. Duncan won World Series with the Reds in 1990 and the Yankees in 1996, while also winning a pennant with the Phillies in 1993. He shares his birthday with former Giant Will Clark, actor William H. Macy, and U2 bassist Adam Clayton.  

UPCOMING PITCHING PROBABLES: Saturday, March 14 at Milwaukee LHP Clayton Kershaw, RHP Tanyon Sturtze and RHP Ramon Troncoso