The Los Angeles Dodgers are off to a solid start to begin the 2019 season, despite dealing with some injuries to key players. Rich Hill, who at one point figured to be the club’s Opening Day starter, is the most notable member of the roster who has not made his season debut.
Hill suffered a knee strain in the middle of March and has remained on the 10-day injured list since Opening Day. That is set to change on Sunday, as Hill is the projected starter against the Pittsburgh Pirates after a dominant rehab start at extended Spring Training at Camelback Ranch.
His 2019 debut will push Ross Stripling to the bullpen and give the Dodgers a fully healthy starting rotation for the first time this season. Clayton Kershaw did not make his first start of the year until April 15, and Hyun-Jin Ryu has already gone to and from the IL with a mild groin strain.
The Dodgers’ pitching has proved less consistent than the team’s offense, though Stripling did turn in a solid outing on Thursday.
Hill, in the final year of his three-year, $48 million contract with the Dodgers, hopes to help shore up the pitching staff and make the most of what might be his final year in Los Angeles, per Jorge Castillo of the L.A. Times:
“I’m ready to get out there,” Hill said. “I’m excited. Obviously, we’ve been playing great. … You want to be a part of it and contribute and earn your keep, so to speak.”
Sixteen of the 18 outs Hill recorded in his most recent rehab start came via strikeout. Before his knee injury, Hill had thrown 11 innings during Spring Training, allowing just four runs, no walks and no home runs while striking out 11. He also struck out eight over four innings in a previous rehab start with High-A Rancho Cucamonga.
Aside from his last start before the knee injury, Hill has appeared dominant in every bit of game action he has seen in 2019. The Dodgers hope that continues as he finally returns to their big league roster.
