Chad Billingsley to have Tommy John surgery tomorrow.

Chad BillingsleyChad Billingsley will undergo Tommy John surgery tomorrow, leaving the Dodgers without their fifth starter for the remainder of this season and likely part of 2014.

Team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache will perform the surgery at the Kerlan Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Los Angeles.

Billingsley elected to undergo PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections and rehabilitation after partially tearing the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow last August. He pitched without pain throughout the winter and into spring training until he developed elbow pain during a bullpen session four days ago. An MRI confirmed an injury to the ligament.

A 12-month timetable would leave Billingsley out of action until April of next season.

Penciled in as the Dodgers’ fifth starter to begin the season, Billingsley was slowed by a blister on his right hand in spring training that pushed back his debut to April 10. He pitched six strong innings that day in a 4-3 Dodgers win over the San Diego Padres.

Billingsley allowed three runs in six innings against the Padres on April 15 and didn’t factor into the decision in a 6-3 Dodgers loss. He’ll finish 2013 with a 1-0 record and a 3.00 earned-run average.

The Dodgers had eight starting pitchers from which to build a rotation when the season began. Four are on the disabled list — Zack Greinke (fractured clavicle), Billingsley, Chris Capuano (strained calf muscle) and Ted Lilly – and Aaron Harang was traded to the Colorado Rockies, then the Seattle Mariners.

Lilly is expected to be activated and start Wednesday night against the New York Mets, while Greinke isn’t expected back until June. Capuano is eligible to be activated May 1 and could be pitching soon thereafter.

Stephen Fife was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque and started Sunday in Baltimore. He, Lilly, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Josh Beckett and Clayton Kershaw are the Dodgers’ five starters at the moment, with Capuano likely to take Fife’s spot once he’s activated.