With the Los Angeles Dodgers closing in on a fourth consecutive National League West division title, the club is shuffling their rotation over the next stretch of games. One change has Rich Hill no longer starting Sunday’s series finale against the Colorado Rockies.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced that instead will go to Brandon McCarthy, who will be reinstated from the 15-day disabled list. McCarthy will become the club’s 40th player on the active roster. The right-hander last pitched Aug. 13.
Hill getting bumped from Sunday’s start is out of precaution because of his blisters, Roberts explained. The veteran left-hander will make his final regular-season start against the San Francisco Giants, on either Oct. 1 or 2.
Hill’s last outing was Tuesday against the Giants. Factoring into when he next takes the mound is what the Dodgers decide with Clayton Kershaw. He’s facing the Colorado Rockies on Saturday night, and will start again Sept. 30 or Oct. 1.
As for the more immediate future and after Monday’s off-day, Jose De Leon will start Tuesday’s series opener against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. He’ll be followed Wednesday by Kenta Maeda, which again means extra rest (six days) for the right-hander.
Whenever possible, Los Angeles has provided Maeda with the rest between starts he was accustomed to during his time pitching in Japan. Roberts did not say who would start Thursday’s series finale against the Padres, which conceivably could be Brett Anderson, Scott Kazmir or Brock Stewart.
