Because of off days, injuries and an unexpected rainout, the Los Angeles Dodgers starting rotation has very much been in flux through the first month of the season. Quickly, the order of Clayton Kershaw, Alex Wood, Kenta Maeda, Rich Hill and Hyun-Jin Ryu was washed away.
For Hill, inflammation in the middle finger of his throwing hand forced him to the 10-day disabled list. While it initially raised some red flags because of Hill’s history with blisters, he explained the issue was due to a cracked fingernail.
Hill also said he felt healthy enough to make his previously scheduled start last weekend against the Washington Nationals. Since being put on the DL, the veteran southpaw has tested the injury with a bullpen session and simulated game.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said this week the club was waiting to see how Hill came out of the simulated action before determining when he might be reinstated.
According to J.P. Hoornstra of the Southern California News Group, all went well and Hill is expected to return for Monday’s series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks:
Rich Hill said his sim game went well and he’ll pitch Monday.
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) April 24, 2018
With Hill not coming off the disabled list until early next week, the Dodgers appear likely to start Ryu, Walker Buehler, Alex Wood and Maeda during the four-game weekend series with the San Francisco Giants. Though he was optioned to High-A Rancho Cucamonga on Tuesday, Buehler can return Saturday as the permitted 26th man for a doubleheader.
Whenever Hill returns, he’ll be looking to improve on the 1-1 record, 6.00 ERA, 5.05 FIP and 1.60 WHIP he’s sporting through three starts this season. His last outing, against the Diamondbacks, was Hill’s poorest start thus far.
He allowed seven runs on seven hits, including two home runs, and had five strikeouts in just five innings. Hill is a lifetime 0-3 with a 10.38 ERA in three starts at Chase Field.
The Dodgers are 1-5 against the Diamondbacks this season. Their victory snapped an 11-game regular-season losing streak to Arizona.
