As teams across Major League Baseball have become more reliant on their bullpen over recent seasons, it’s coincided with hesitation to allow a starting pitcher to face an opposing lineup a third time through.
However, Rich Hill has bucked the trend when the Los Angeles Dodgers have allowed him to. The latest instance came in Friday’s 5-3 win against the Chicago Cubs. It marked a 19th time this season the Dodgers have come from behind.
Hill’s outing got off to a rocky start as he allowed a two-run home run to Anthony Rizzo in the first inning, and a leadoff homer to Kris Bryant in the third. However, the three runs were all the veteran southpaw allowed over seven innings, and he finished with seven strikeouts.
Hill not only kept the Cubs off the board after Bryant’s home run, he retired 13 of the final 14 batters faced. He again reiterated that getting more looks at a lineup can be of benefit for the pitcher, which was the case for him and his curveball, as seen on SportsNet LA:
“I always say a hitter gets to see us three times but we get to see them three times as well. I think that’s a point that sometimes goes missed. The curveball definitely did get better as the outing went on. Just continued to change the shape of it and work it to both sides of the plate and up and down the zone.”
There’s certainly credence to Hill’s viewpoint, at least on a personal level. He owns a 7.00 ERA in the first inning, which is the worst of any frame pitched this season.
Additionally, opponents are batting .257/.295/.500 in their first plate appearance against Hill, and .247/.309/.479 their second time seeing him. The third time through swings the pendulum back in Hill’s favor, to the tune of a .213/.260/.255 batting line.
He’s only faced an opposing batter a fourth time on two separate occasions, and has yet to allow a hit.
Hill has gone seven innings in two of his past three starts, which represent his longest outings this season. He’s 4-1 with a 2.60 ERA and 1.13 WHIP, having settled into a nice rhythm after a shaky beginning to the season.
It was the result of Spring Training being cut short due to a sprained MCL, and Hill did not come off the 10-day injured list until April 28.
