Dominic Fazzini

Friday's plays

10 Dime -- Dodgers (Billingsley) -1 1/2 runs over REDS (Bailey)

5 Dime -- Patriots (minus the points vs. REDSKINS)

DODGERS
NOTE: List only Billingsley as Los Angeles' starting pitcher

The Dodgers are being seriously pressed by the red-hot Rockies in the NL West, which might be a good thing in the long term for Los Angeles.

Instead of coasting toward the playoffs, the Dodgers are now forced to stay focused, and now they get to play their favorite whipping boys this weekend.

Los Angeles has won nine straight games against the Reds, and Chad Billingsley (12-7, 3.73 ERA) has been awesome in four career starts vs. Cincinnati, going 3-1 with a 1.48 ERA.

The right-hander allowed three runs and nine hits in six innings Sunday in a 3-1 loss to the Cubs in his last outing, but he was 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA in his three outings before that.

Reds starter Homer Bailey (3-4, 6.82) is coming off his best start of the year, when he gave up one run and four hits in seven innings Sunday in a 4-1 victory at Pittsburgh. It was the first time the former first-round draft pick allowed fewer than two runs since 2007.

The right-hander is 1-2 with a 7.13 ERA in six home starts this season. In his only
career start against Los Angeles, on July 21, Bailey allowed a career-high nine runs (six earned) and eight hits in 2 2/3 innings at Dodger Stadium.

Cincinnati is just 13-26 since the All-Star break.

Joe Torre is not going to let Los Angeles lose its focus with Colorado right on its heels. That does not bode well for the Reds' chances in ending their slide against the Dodgers, at least not tonight. Los Angeles should light Bailey up in this one. Take the Dodgers on the run line.

PATRIOTS

This is the week during preseason in which coaches play their first-string players longer than they do in any other exhibition game. It is for that reason that I love New England in this one.

The Patriots' offense managed just two first-half field goals last week in the team's 7-6 home loss to lowly Cincinnati. Tom Brady & Co. are expected to play more than a half tonight, and they're going to want to look sharp in their last extended time on the field this preseason.

The Redskins' first-team offense hasn't produced a touchdown in two exhibition games, and quarterback Jason Campbell has been struggling. Star receiver Santana Moss is not expected to play tonight, which won't make things any easier for Campbell.

Defensive stars Carlos Rodgers and Albert Haynesworth also might not play tonight for the Redskins, which should make Brady's job a lot easier.

New England is traditionally a bad play in preseason games, but the Pats are 5-2 against the spread in the third week of exhibition contests over the past seven years.

Washington is 1-3 straight-up and ATS in Week 3 action over the past four years, and 6-12 SU and ATS in its last 18 exhibition games overall.

Not counting a 2007 game at Baltimore that was canceled in the third quarter because of lightning, the Redskins' last three Week 3 preseason loss have been by a combined score of 116-6, including a 41-0 loss at New England in 2006.

With Brady having a little something to prove tonight, that can't be a good thing for Washington. Take the Patriots to cover the points in this one.