There was a bit of an interesting development for the Los Angeles Dodgers before their series finale against the San Diego Padres, as Adam Liberatore was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City and Rich Hill was placed on the 10-day disabled list.
For Hill, it marked a second consecutive April in which he landed on the DL. Last April 17, it was due to blisters that plagued him throughout the 2016 season. On Wednesday, the Dodgers described his injury as left middle finger inflammation.
At minimum, it ruled Hill out for Friday’s start against the Washington Nationals. Considering his prior history and trouble with chronic blisters, it raised some concern over his status moving forward.
But the 37-year-old clarified he’s dealing with a cracked fingernail, not a recurrence of blister trouble, according to Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“We thought we’d just monitor it until Friday, but unfortunately it hasn’t dissipated as much as we wanted it to,” Hill said. “It’s more of a precautionary event than anything.”
Hill’s disabled list stint is retroactive to April 15, and he went on to add that he does not expect to miss more than one start.
Because of an off day before beginning a six-game homestand, the Dodgers don’t need a fifth starter until Wednesday. That coincides with the first day Hill is eligible to come off the DL.
But if he is not able to return for that start then the Dodgers would likely need to make a roster move to call up a starter, or a bullpen game could also be an option. They would face a more pressing situation over the weekend, as a doubleheader against the San Francisco Giants is on tap Saturday, April 28.
