Know Your Enemy: April 22

Now the Astros get to face 6'1" 240lb RHP Chad Billingsley to conclude the series against the Dodgers.

*Billingsley was the 24th overall pick of the 2003 draft by the Dodgers, having been drafted out of Defiance HS (where he was teammates with Mets pitcher Jon Niese) in Ohio, where in his senior season he struck out 113 batters and walked 16 in 56IP. He won the bronze medal with Team USA in the 2002 IBAF World Junior Championships.
*He is 4-3 in seven starts against the Astros in his career, with a 4.29 ERA/1.31 WHIP.
*But all four of those wins came at Minute Maid Park, where he is 4-0 in four starts. In 30.1IP, he has allowed 19H/6ER, 25K:0BB, for a 1.78 ERA/0.92 WHIP.
*In three starts this season, Billingsley has 17K:1BB in 20.1IP, having allowed 13H/3ER.
*Billingsley has faced 73 batters in his 20.1IP this season.
*He has faced current Astros for 60PAs, where they are hitting .189/.224/.321. Brett Myers is tied with Carlos Lee for the most RBI against Billingsley, with three. Chris Snyder is 3x22 with 2HR and a walk, and Carlos Lee is 5x19 with a double.
*LHBs are hitting .171/.171/.314 against Billingsley this season; 14 of his 17 strikeouts have come following a first-pitch strike.
*Billingsley has only allowed one hit and a walk with runners in scoring position.
*If the Astros are going to follow 2012 trends, they need to do their damage early. The opposing lineup's OPS the first time through the order has an .883 OPS, while the 2nd time through has a .394 OPS, and the 3rd time through has a .235 OPS.

*Wandy is coming off his best start of the season, on Tuesday, when the Astros lost a 1-0 game at Washington, and Wandy threw 7IP, 5H/1ER, 3K:0BB. It was the 2nd 1-0 loss of his career, and first since 2009.
*He has only induced 1 GIDP this season.
*The Astros are 7-13 in Wandy's last 20 starts. His ERA in those 20 starts? 3.65.
*He is 4-4 against LA in his career, with a 2.45 ERA in 11 games (10 starts), 48K:23BB. It's his lowest ERA against a team with 3+ starts.
*Current Dodgers are collectively hitting .256/.313/.368 against Wandy. Among players with 10+ PAs, Matt Kemp leads the way with a .947 OPS, then Jerry Hairson with an .894 OPS. James Loney is 2x13 in his career against Wandy.