Little has gone right since the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired Rich Hill as part of a five-player trade with the Oakland Athletics prior to the Aug. 1 non-waiver trade deadline. On the 15-day disabled list at the time, Hill’s debut with the Dodgers was delayed three separate times.
Hill was affected by a lingering blister that flared up whenever he threw, then a second blister began to form. After getting through a simulated game at Camelback Ranch, the southpaw took the mound at Dodger Stadium against the San Francisco Giants.
The wait proved to be well worth it as Hill tossed six shutout innings on an efficient 81 pitches. He was slated for a second start with the Dodgers on Tuesday, only for the gam against the Colorado Rockies to be rained out.
Although he was slated to start the nightcap of a split doubleheader at Coors Field, Hill’s blister was cause for concern and his was in question prior to the afternoon game, per Andy McCullough of the LA Times:
The Dodgers have some concern about Rich Hill, who threw 40 pitches warming up last night. Still tentatively slated to pitch Game 2.
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughTimes) August 31, 2016
After the Dodgers were shut out by the Rockies, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Hill was scratched from his scheduled start:
Bud Norris may take the ball to start, but "it's going to be a bullpen game," Dave Roberts said.
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughTimes) August 31, 2016
Bud Norris last pitched Aug. 26 and takes the mound on regular rest. He was considered a long reliever when the three-game series in Denver began. In scratching Hill, it pushes him back to a probable start this weekend at Dodger Stadium.
Thus far, Roberts has only announced that Julio Urias is taking the ball Friday against the San Diego Padres.
