Chad Billingsley picks right time to pitch well for the Dodgers

Chad Billingsley's resurgence is quite refreshing and encouraging. The 28-year-old is throwing the way we all know he can.

The Dodgers didn't land the starting pitcher they coveted at the trade deadline (though, they later acquires Joe Blanton), but it's almost like they acquired a No. 2 in Billingsley.

He's posted some great numbers since returning from the disabled list: 34 2/3 IP, 27 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 6 BB, 23 K. Those numbers are good for a 1.56 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and a .209 batting average against. That's elite-level production.

Billingsley has shown flashes like this in the past and it's unrealistic to expect he'll be able to sustain this type of success. However, it's exactly what the Dodgers needed in the rotation at this point.

Chris Capuano, despite his fantastic outing last week, has struggled and Aaron Harang has been expectedly mediocre.

So, here's to Billingsley (and his fancy new beard) pitching well enough to help the Dodgers get to the postseason.

Photo credit: SD Dirk, Flickr