(Sports Network) - Rookie Chad Billingsley will try to succeed where veteran Los Angeles teammate Greg Maddux failed in game three of a three-game series tonight with the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates.

Billingsley, a 22-year-old former first-round draft choice (2003), takes the mound with the Dodgers in a tie with the Philadelphia Phillies atop the National League's wild-card race.

Los Angeles entered Wednesday night's game a game ahead of the Phillies, but fell in to the deadlock when Maddux was beaten by the Pirates and Philadelphia defeated the Chicago Cubs.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers trail San Diego by a half-game in the NL's West Division.

Billingsley, who was briefly shelved after suffering a straight oblique muscle during an Aug. 27 defeat of Arizona, was tagged for three hits and three runs in just an inning of his subsequent outing, an 11-2 loss to the Padres on Sept. 16.

He has never faced the Pirates.

Pittsburgh counters with fellow rookie Shane Youman, a 26-year-old left-hander making his third career appearance and second career start.

He goes in place of Paul Maholm, who was scratched with a sore shoulder.

Youman allowed five hits and three runs over 5 1/3 innings in his lone starting assignment, a 4-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Sept. 10. He then allowed two hits and a run in a three-inning relief stint against the New York Mets on Sept. 16.

On Wednesday, Jack Wilson went 3-for-5 with an RBI and three runs scored as the Pirates defeated the Dodgers, 6-4.

Freddy Sanchez went 4-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored and Jose Bautista hit a solo home run for the Pirates, who have won five in a row and six of their last seven games.

Shawn Chacon (7-6) won his first start since August 3 as he gave up four runs -- two earned -- on six hits in 6 2/3 innings for Pittsburgh.

J.D. Drew hit a pinch-hit two-run home run and Rafael Furcal had two hits and drove in a run for the Dodgers, who have lost four of their last five games.

Maddux (13-14) got the loss for giving up three runs on seven hits in five innings of action for Los Angeles.

The Dodgers have won five of their nine matchups with the Pirates this season and are 21-7 in the series since the start of the 2003 campaign. Pittsburgh has also struggled at Chavez Ravine, where it has won just four times in its last 15 visits.