Dodgers hope Ted Lilly can help pull them out of slump

The Dodgers hope to emerge from their recent slump, and quell their growing frustration, when left-hander Ted Lilly goes against the Houston Astros on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series at Dodger Stadium.

Lilly has a 7-2 career record and 2.30 earned-run average against Houston, which has baseball’s worst record at 25-45.

The Astros have lost eight of their last 10 games, but the Dodgers (31-39) have fared little better, losing seven of their last 10, including a three-game sweep by the Cincinnati Reds this week.

The Dodgers had Thursday off after the Reds’ sweep ratcheted up questions about whether the Dodgers were getting increasingly frustrated and discouraged.

During the Dodgers’ 7-2 loss to the Reds on Wednesday, for instance, Andre Ethier slowly walked into the dugout after making an out and slammed his bat against the bat rack.

“I know it’s discouraging for me; it’s discouraging for them,” Manager Don Mattingly said of his team and its recent losses. “You keep getting ready, you keep playing hard and you’re not getting results.

“We’re trying to make things happen,” he said. “Guys definitely are not quitting.”

As for Ethier, who’s still batting .313, “Andre’s a guy that gets frustrated,” Mattingly said. “He’s got so much talent and such a great swing that you want him to keep fighting.”

Pitching duel

Wednesday’s loss came after the Reds tagged Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley for seven runs in four innings, but Billingsley did have one positive moment: He got another hit.

Billingsley singled off Cincinnati starter Travis Wood in the second inning to lift his average to .308 (eight for 26). Billingsley also has a home run — against the Reds in Cincinnati on June 5 — and three doubles.

He’s in a friendly competition with Clayton Kershaw, who is batting .290 (nine for 31). Kershaw also singled in his last start, on Tuesday against the Reds’ Johnny Cueto.

“I got ahead in the count and knew [Cueto] was going to throw some fastballs to me, so I just was trying to get it out there,” Kershaw said.

As for the rivalry with Billingsley, Kershaw said, “Bills has got a pretty good lead right now with that homer.”

Short hops

With his pinch-hit single on Wednesday, Aaron Miles is five for nine (.555) as a pinch-hitter this season … So far, the Dodgers’ problems have had little to do with geography; they’re 15-19 at home and 16-20 on the road . . . After the Houston series, the Dodgers host two series of interleague play with the Detroit Tigers and the Angels.

james.peltz@latimes.com