The Los Angeles Dodgers and Rich Hill have become quite familiar in dealing with finger trouble over recent years, as blisters forced him to the disabled list in both 2016 and 2017. Hill was again put on the DL this season, though due to inflammation in his left middle finger.
It was caused by a cracked fingernail, though Hill maintained he was healthy enough to make what was a scheduled start at Dodger Stadium against the Washington Nationals on April 20. After throwing a simulated game, the veteran southpaw was due to return to face the Arizona Diamondbacks.
But that was then pushed back to Hill expecting to start in the Mexico Series. Clayton Kershaw’s biceps injury altered that plan, and Hill didn’t return until this past Sunday.
Hill was removed from that start because a blister began to flare up. He and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts both deemed the situation a non-issue, adding that the 37-year-old would not miss his next start.
After completing a bullpen session at Marlins Park, Hill remains on track to take the mound Saturday against the Nationals, via Glenn Sattell on MLB.com:
Roberts also confirmed that Rich Hill will make his scheduled start on Saturday in Washington.
“Rich is on for Saturday, ready to go, staying on rotation,” Roberts said.
After spinning six shutout innings against the San Francisco Giants in his 2018 debut, Hill has allowed at least two earned runs in each of his last four starts. He’s pitched beyond the fifth inning just one during that stretch.
Overall, Hill is 1-2 with a 6.20 ERA and 1.74 WHIP. He allowed just one run and collected seven strikeouts over five innings to earn a win at Nationals Park last season.
