As the Los Angeles Dodgers were looking for a replacement to Clayton Kershaw, it appeared Rich Hill was the favorite to start on Opening Day. However, he suffered a strained MCL in his left knee and therefore eliminated from consideration.
Hill sustained the injury on one of the final pitches in his final Cactus League start on March 17. He felt pain in a bullpen session days later, which prompted an MRI that revealed the strain.
He was projected to be facing a two-week recovery and like Tony Cingrani and Clayton Kershaw, Hill began the season on the 10-day injured list.
As Hill continues to recover from the knee injury, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he’s potentially closing in on throwing a bullpen session, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
Left-hander Rich Hill’s strained left knee continues to improve, and Roberts said Hill might throw a bullpen session early next week.
Hill recently said he was encouraged by progress and the balky knee was improving on a daily basis. While he’s yet to get off a mound sine suffering the injury, the veteran left-hander has been able to continue throwing to keep his arm in shape.
Moreover, the discomfort dissipating in Hill’s knee has allowed him to do so with more intensity than simply playing catch. With Hill on the mend and Kershaw closing in on a rehab start, the Dodgers’ rotation could be at full strength in the coming weeks.
