Over the past three weeks the primary blister that’s thwarted the Los Angeles Dodgers’ best-laid plans is the one on the middle finger of Rich Hill’s left hand. While Hill has completed a simulated game and again is scheduled for his Dodgers debut, Brett Anderson is now dealing with a blister.
Injury forced Anderson to an early exit for the second time in as many starts. He suffered a mild left wrist sprain in his 2016 debut on Aug. 14 and only managed to pitch one inning. Anderson successfully tested his ailing wrist during a bullpen session during the week, leaving him on track to face the Cincinnati Reds.
He was roughed up in the first inning — allowing the first five batters to reach and the Reds to take a 4-0 lead.
Anderson’s night came to an end after a wild pitch sailed to the backstop in the fourth inning. It was the second time in the game he lost control of a pitch in such fashion.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and a trainer checked on Anderson, there was a brief conversation, then the club saw the all-too-familiar image of a starter being removed early.
According to Cody Pace of MLB.com, the blister is an issue Anderson has dealt with since his Aug. 8 rehab start and was something the southpaw believed he could manage:
“I had it, but it was tough enough, the skin was tough enough, where I could pitch and I was fine and then I don’t know if the humidity caught up with me and the conditions and stuff,” Anderson said. “Regardless, I wanted to battle through it and give us a chance. Just didn’t work out that way.”
Prior to Saturday’s game, Roberts named Anderson one of the probables for the Dodgers’ upcoming series against the San Francisco Giants. Given Anderson’s ineffectiveness and injury, that may now be in question.
In four-plus innings pitched this season, Anderson has allowed 11 runs on 14 hits, including three home runs.
