Dodgers' Billingsley to Miss Remainder of Season

The Los Angeles Dodgers transferred right-hander Chad Billingsley on the 60-day disabled list yesterday, effectively shutting him down for the season, reports Alex Angert of MLB.com:

Chad Billingsley has been officially shut down for the season with a partial tear in his ulnar collateral ligament and he has been transferred to the 60-day disabled list to create a spot on the roster.

The Dodgers had hoped that Billingsley, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list early last week with elbow inflammation, could at least return to the bullpen later this month. Now, even a return for the 2013 season looks hazy. The 28-year-old received a second platelet-rich plasma injection yesterday and could face Tommy John surgery if the partial tear shows no improvement in the coming weeks.

Billingsley has not picked up a baseball and does not plan to for another four to five weeks. Once that time has passed he will attempt to start a throwing regimen, which will quickly determine whether he needs offseason surgery.

The big right-hander started twenty-five games for the Dodgers this season, posting a 3.35 ERA and 7.7 K/9 in one hundred forty-nine and a third innings of work. Billingsley is in the first year of a three year, $35 million contract that includes a $14 million club option for the 2015 season.

The newly-acquired Josh Beckett will take over the No. 2 spot in the Dodgers' rotation in Billingsley's absence.