With Clayton Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu off the 10-day injured list, the Los Angeles Dodgers are on the verge of having their expected Opening Day rotation within the next week as Rich Hill continues to inch toward returning.
After beginning the season on the IL because of a strained MCL in his left knee, Hill gradually built up to making a rehab start. Hill went four scoreless innings and struck out eight in an outing with High-A Rancho Cucamonga, and felt confident he was in position to be activated.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts didn’t necessarily refute the notion, but said Hill would make a second rehab start prior to returning. It was expected to come with Triple-A Oklahoma City or Double-A Tulsa, with weather the determining factor.
However, the forecast instead is sending Hill to Camelback Ranch where he’ll pitch in extended Spring Training on Monday. Assuming all goes well, the Dodgers will reinstate the veteran left-hander for a start in Sunday’s series finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates, per Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
Rich Hill said he will drive to Chicago during Sunday’s game, fly from Chicago to Phoenix, pitch five innings in an extended spring training game at Camelback Ranch on Monday morning, then fly back to Chicago on Monday when the Dodgers are off, remain with the club and will be activated to start next Sunday for the Dodgers at home.
The purpose of having Hill make another rehab start is to further build his pitch count. Although the initial plan has been altered, he will work to complete five innings or 75 pitches on Monday.
Like when Kershaw made two rehab starts, it will leave Hill in position to potentially throw upwards of 100 pitches in his 2019 debut.
