The Los Angeles Dodgers activated Rich Hill off the 10-day disabled list and optioned utilityman Breyvic Valera to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Hill starts Tuesday night against the Chicago Cubs in the second game of a day-night doubleheader at Wrigley Field.
The 38-year-old last took the mound on May 19 against the Washington Nationals, when he threw all of two pitches before being removed with persistent blister issues. Hill later compared his blister woes to a similar injury he endured in 2016.
That led to Hill throwing bullpen sessions with protective tape around his finger. He has since made a rehab start for Triple-A Oklahoma City, tossing 4.2 scoreless innings while recording 10 of his 14 outs via strikeout without issuing a walk.
The left-hander was encouraged by the results he netted after tinkered with his mechanics. Hill also revealed that his blister was a non-factor during the outing.
He further bolsters a Dodgers rotation that recently saw the return of Kenta Maeda. In six starts this season, Hill has posted 6.20 ERA, 6.34 FIP and 1.74 WHIP in 24.2 innings pitched with 25 strikeouts to 13 walks.
Valera appeared as a pinch-hitter in the first game of the doubleheader, laying down a sacrifice bunt. He has appeared in 20 games at the Major League level this season, going 5-for-29 (.172 batting average) with four RBI.
He has gone back and forth between Triple-A and the big leagues for much of the season, so he will likely be back up at some point.
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