Dodgers RHP Billingsley to miss next start

By JOSH DUBOW
AP Sports Writer

SAN FRANCISCO(AP) -- All-Star pitcher Chad Billingsley will miss
his scheduled start against the San Francisco Giants on
Wednesday with a strained left hamstring.

Billingsley left his last start against Atlanta on Friday after
straining his hamstring on a single. He threw on the side before
Monday's series opener against the Giants and still felt the
tightness so the Dodgers decided to skip his next start.

"I don't view it as a setback," Billingsley said. "Being only
two days and being able to throw almost 100 percent, I'm happy
with that."

Manager Joe Torre said he hopes Billingsley can return to the
mound next Monday. After consulting with trainer Stan Conte,
Torre said he doesn't believe Billingsley will need to go on the
disabled list.

"Stan feels that he has made significant progress but not far
enough along to pitch him on Wednesday," Torre said.

The Dodgers haven't decided on a starter for Wednesday's game
against Tim Lincecum. Jeff Weaver, who threw three perfect
innings of relief on Sunday, and James McDonald are options to
come out of the bullpen and start in Billingsley's place. With a
day off Thursday and 13 pitchers on the roster, Torre said the
team might not need to add another pitcher.

"We don't have a plan yet," Torre said. "Obviously we are going
to need one. We don't have one, but we know we have sort of a
safety plan knowing we could get it done with the pitchers that
we have here."

Billingsley is the Dodgers top pitcher, with an 11-6 record and
3.73 ERA. He has 143 strikeouts in 149 2-3 innings. The Dodgers
can ill afford to lose Billingsley for any length of time
because of the way they have struggled of late.

Los Angeles entered this crucial series against the second-place
Giants having lost 11 of 17 games. The Dodgers still led San
Francisco and Colorado by 5 1/2 games in the NL West.