It’s rare that a day has passed this season without Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts providing an update on injured starting pitchers. Unfortunately for the rookie manager, that’s come with a negative connotation more times than not.
With Brett Anderson, Clayton Kershaw, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Alex Wood on the disabled list, the Dodgers set out to acquire a starting pitcher prior to Monday’s non-waiver trade deadline passing. They landed Rich Hill in a five-player trade with the Oakland Athletics, though Hill at present time is on the 15-day disabled list.
He threw a bullpen session on Wednesday without aggravating the blister that ripped open just five pitches into his July 17 start.
While Hill is on the mend, Bud Norris has a mid-back strain, per Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
Mild mid-back strain for Norris. Still on active roster.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) August 4, 2016
Norris was removed after facing two batters on Sunday due what the Dodgers announced as back muscle tightness. Norris and Roberts both referred to the issue as a lat strain in their postgame comments.
Roberts expressed confidence Norris would make his next turn in the rotation, though the right-hander wasn’t nearly as certain. While Norris is ruled out for a start this weekend, Hill is tentatively scheduled to start on Sunday against the Boston Red Sox, according to Andy McCullough of the LA Times:
Looks like Sunday is the day for Rich Hill. Still exploring options for Saturday.
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughTimes) August 4, 2016
The Dodgers have put 25 players on the disabled list this season, which is a National League record. They are three shy of breaking the Major League record set by the Boston Red Sox in 2012.
With Hill slotted for Sunday, the Dodgers’ options for Saturday are essentially limited to Jose De Leon and Ross Stripling. De Leon is scheduled to start that day for Triple-A Oklahoma City, but isn’t on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster.
Los Angeles conceivably could opt for a bullpen game, particularly when considering their move to recall Grant Dayton gives them nine relievers. What’s more, among them is swingman Jesse Chavez, who was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays.
The decision to start Hill in place of Brandon McCarthy on Sunday raises a separate set of concerns. Though, the Dodgers could simply be providing McCarthy with extra day after he struggled in two consecutive starts.
