A Los Angeles Dodgers starting rotation that had been dominant top to bottom for much of this season will need to move ahead without Rich Hill for the foreseeable future. After throwing just one inning in his start, Hill was diagnosed with a strained flexor tendon in his left forearm.
Hill isn’t certain how long his absence will extend, but doesn’t anticipate throwing a baseball for at least the next three or four weeks. He will require another buildup similar to a pitcher’s progression in Spring Training.
That figures to translate to Hill not returning until August, at the earliest. In the interim, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is confident in Ross Stripling, Julio Urias or Minor League depth filling the void.
“The good thing about the organization is internally we have some good options. Whether it’s Ross or continuing to build Julio, or somebody down in our system, we have options,” Roberts said.
“Right now we don’t have to make that decision. We have a little bit of time to kind of assess where we’re at after tonight and the next couple of days to have that Tuesday and Wednesday starter.”
Urias made a spot start in Thursday’s series finale against the San Francisco Giants, which was planned prior to Hill suffering his injury. The Dodgers tabbed Urias for his first start since April 18 as a means of providing the regulars in the rotation with an extra day of rest.
The Dodgers remain committed to limiting Urias’ workload in his first full season since undergoing shoulder surgery. Otherwise, he may have been viewed as the clear option to fill the void left by Hill.
But whether Stripling or Urias, Roberts is not in a rush to name a replacement. “I think that if you look at those two guys, Ross is built up more,” he said.
“I think it’s just more of potential matchups, innings for Julio and how that would kind of lay out, what gives us the best chance to win, the value of each guy in the ‘pen and one guy starting. And looking down at the system and seeing who’s built up, what makes sense for them and us.
“I just think that right now, it obviously came about pretty quick, for us to take some days is the right thing to do.”
Stripling filled in admirably during the first half last season as Hyun-Jin Ryu recovered from a torn groin. Stripling’s performance earned him a first career All-Star Game selection, and he too hasn’t started since April when Clayton Kershaw and Hill remained on the injured list.
