After three seasons of a starting rotation led by Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke, the 2016 duo of Kershaw and Scott Kazmir lacked the same cache. By late June, the Los Angeles Dodgers were without an ace.
To his credit, Kenta Maeda, signed to an incentive-laden eight-year contract because of medical concerns, pitched valiantly to lead the rotation. As the calendar flipped to July and into August and Kershaw remained sidelined, the Dodgers addressed their pitching need by acquiring Rich Hill in a five-player trade.
He was on the 15-day disabled list because of a blister, at the time of the Aug. 1 trade. Hill didn’t make his Dodgers debut for another 23 days.
But the veteran has given Los Angeles another formidable ace, backing the recently-returned Kershaw. Beyond both being southpaws, Hill and Kershaw harbor the same competitive and fiery spirit.
Hill’s was on full display Thursday night when he shouted expletives at Arizona Diamondbacks starter Archie Bradley after an inside pitch struck Hill on his index finger during a bunt attempt.
Hill said after the game his intensity led to being caught up in the moment. For Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, it was a reminder of the similarities between Hill and Kershaw.
“They’re very comparable. That’s what makes these two guys elite pitchers,” Roberts said after his club’s 7-3 loss.
“They feel they can get any hitter out at any point in time, they want to finish a game they start, and they’re focused on getting guys out. It’s great, I love the competitiveness. It’s my job to navigate through it.”
While both are working under watchful eyes — Kershaw because he’s returning from a back injury, and Hill’s nagging blisters — the duo is aligned to start the first two games of the upcoming series against the San Francisco Giants.
And if all goes according to plan for the Dodgers, Kershaw and Hill will be full-go come the postseason.
