Billingsley preparing for unknown role

LOS ANGELES -- A year ago, Chad Billingsley went into the National League Division Series as the Dodgers' starting pitcher for Game 2 and beat the Cubs.

This year?

Dodgers at a glance 2009 record: 95-67 2008 record: 84-78 NL West champs NL best record NLCS matchup: Phillies at Dodgers Postseason tix: Buy now WHO ARE THESE GUYS? • Loney: Taking good swings • Kuo: Long road back • Thome: Back in Philly • Loney: Building resume • Bullpen: Led by Broxton • Torre: Rep precedes him • Blake: Chemistry guy • Kershaw: Game 1 nod? • Dodgers: Eyes on prize • Kemp: Path of the pros • Furcal: Back healthy • Kershaw: Like Koufax • Hudson: Keeping head up • Billingsley: Unknown role • Ethier: Slump over • Torre: Tough decisions • Kershaw: Elite comparisons • Kemp: Nearly elite • Kershaw: Path to the pros • Billingsley: Fate in balance • Ethier: Aims to improve • Torre: Back to playoffs • Kershaw: Ready to rock • Rotation: Plenty of options • Kemp: Chasing LA history • Bullpen: Dominant pair • Honeycutt: Pitching guru • Kemp: Tools to match talent • Ethier: Walk-off wonder • Billingsley: Vying for spot • Ethier/Kemp: Dynamic duo • Torre: Another pennant race • Pierre: Receives high praise • Kershaw: Beyond his years More Dodgers coverage • Dodgers, Broxton stung by Phils in ninth Game 4 remains unkind to Broxton Phillies have Dodgers in tight spot Dodgers attempt to shake off heartbreaker With season on line, LA turns to Padilla Dodgers overwhelmed in Game 3 Wolf to put fond memories aside Kuroda makes no excuses for performance Runs hard to come by for Dodgers Beyond Game 4, rotation a question Dodgers ready to weather chill in Philly Kuroda gets ball for Game 3 Temperatures will be a challenge Rally revives Dodgers, evens NLCS Dodgers can't recover from Phils' homers Sherrill's rough inning costly Kershaw unravels quickly in Gm. 1 For starters, Dodgers have options October continues to be Torre's time After sweep, Dodgers reload rotation Sweep deal: Dodgers return to NLCS Dodgers hope party isn't last of 2009 Manny's big game a great sign Sweep leaves LA waiting on Rox, Phils Padilla silences critics with gem Dodgers excited, but keep eye on prize Affable Padilla on top of his game Torre, the person, leads way Dodgers stun Cardinals in ninth From walk to walk-off, Blake set stage Kershaw comes of age in Game 2 start Holliday takes place in long line of 'goats' Padilla grateful for 'second life' in LA Cards focused, but history against them Kemp, bullpen pull through in Game 1 Kershaw ready to grow up on big stage Short turnaround awaits NLDS foes Dodgers, Cardinals break left-on-base mark Middle of defense turns tables fast Billingsley gets call for Game 4 No surprises as Dodgers set roster Call to Wolf is easy decision One win nets Dodgers division, home-field Dodgers end drama, wrap up NL West Dodgers' division lead whittled to one Dodgers leave SD without division title LA drops chance to clinch NL West Ohman undergoes shoulder surgery Bucs keep Dodgers' celebration on ice Dodgers stunned; West party on hold Dodgers clinch postseason berth Playoffs await after win over Bucs Dodgers denied in playoff clinch attempt Wolf rolling as postseason beckons Blake playing it careful with hamstring Dodgers trim playoff magic number to one Billingsley sharp, LA not in loss to Nats Postseason magic number down to two Dodgers beat Giants' ace to stay on track Kershaw says he's ready to go Ethier blossoms into prime-time player Billingsley confident turnaround is coming Kershaw pitching beyond his years Ethier helps Dodgers pad West lead Dodgers shut down by former ace Penny Dodgers leave Giants reeling in NL West Dodgers protect lead with Kuroda's help Bauman: Pitching will carry Dodgers Messy ninth inning costs Dodgers

"I have no idea," said Billingsley, which says a lot about the peaks and valleys of a Major League Baseball career.

Manager Joe Torre has lined up his first two pitchers for the opening series and they are Randy Wolf and Clayton Kershaw. After that, he's not saying.

With Hiroki Kuroda scratched because of a herniated disk in his neck, Torre has three starters -- Billingsley and late additions Vicente Padilla and Jon Garland -- for the final two slots he'll need in the best-of-five series that starts Wednesday against St. Louis at Dodger Stadium.

Earlier in the week, Torre had Garland start and Padilla relieve a game in San Diego. Garland allowed five runs in 3 1/3 innings, while Padilla pitched two scoreless innings coming out of the bullpen for the first time since 2001. On Sunday, they will reverse roles, with Padilla starting and Garland relieving.

Billingsley, who last started Tuesday in San Diego, could have started Sunday. Instead, the tentative plan is to have him throw a simulated game Monday (possibly at the Dodgers' Camelback Ranch Spring Training complex), which would line him up to pitch Game 3 five days later.

Billingsley is coming off back-to-back quality starts after being skipped a start while he regrouped and worked out a flaw in his mechanics that had developed over the second half of a season in which he was so good in the first half that he made the All-Star team.

At his worst, he went five starts without a win. With Kuroda out and Billingsley back on track, he seems likely to keep his spot in the rotation.

Torre said Billingsley has the best arm and the ability to dominate, Padilla has the combination of experience and stuff, and he likes what he calls Garland's "grittiness."

Billingsley said he expects to start.

"Right now, I'm preparing like I'm starting, unless they tell me different," he said. "That's the way I usually prepare. I don't go in thinking that I don't know what to expect. I'm sticking with my normal plan. Why would I change? I prepare the same every day. Why change something."

Billingsley started twice against the Cardinals this year. He took a strange loss in St. Louis July 28, pitching five scoreless innings, then imploding in a six-run sixth. But he rebounded Aug. 18 by allowing two runs in six innings of a 7-3 win. He's 1-2 with a 4.40 ERA lifetime against the Cardinals, 0-1 with a 4.02 ERA in three starts at Busch Stadium.