Rich Hill today met reporters for the first time as a Dodger.
By Jon Weisman
Though newly acquired left-hander Rich Hill is eligible to come off the disabled list Thursday, he will likely make a rehab start before his Dodger debut, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com.
Hill threw a bullpen session today, and said his finger blister was much improved, according to Gurnick. He hasn’t recorded an out since July 7, when he struck out 10 in six innings for Oakland in a 3-1 victory over Houston.
The Dodgers are also giving an extra day of rest to Kenta Maeda and Scott Kazmir, who were originally scheduled to start Wednesday and Thursday at Colorado. Maeda will start Thursday, with Kazmir taking the mound Friday against Boston. Kazmir remained in Los Angeles rather than making the trip to Colorado.
Also in Los Angeles is Bud Norris, who left his Sunday start after two batters because of right lat soreness. Norris is receiving back treatment, and the hope is that he would start Saturday for the Dodgers, though nothing is definite.
The Dodgers haven’t announced their Wednesday starter, but Brock Stewart coincidentally materialized in the visitors clubhouse at Coors Field today, and Dave Roberts confirmed he was the choice to take the mound. Since allowing five runs (all in the second inning) of his five-inning MLB debut June 29 at Milwaukee, Stewart has pitched four games for Triple-A Oklahoma City: 24 innings, 24 baserunners, 22 strikeouts, 3.00 ERA.
Julio Urías, by the way, is scheduled to pitch Wednesday for Oklahoma City. Since throwing four innings July 21 for the Dodgers at Washington, Urías has made two relief appearances totaling three innings and 51 pitches. He has thrown 85 1/3 innings this year in the Majors and minors combined, 2 1/3 short of his career high set in 2014.
throwdeuce
And why I said optioning Stripling shouldn’t happen. Instead he was and now the person who should have left will have to after today’s game. Although it should be Coleman, or maybe Howell, it’ll be Baez since he has options and the others don’t.
Jon Weisman
I don’t really know quite how to respond to this. Maybe it’s that you don’t think things through as much as you believe you do? For example, Baez is not the only player they have the ability to option Wednesday.
Stripling threw 51 pitches Sunday, so he was useless until at least Thursday. If the Dodgers need him before his 10 days in the minors are up, it will quite possibly be because of a DL move, which would allow them to bring him back. Alternatively, there are other candidates in the system who can come up should the Dodgers require another reliever. Stewart may or may not even be on the active roster more than 24 hours.
throwdeuce
OK Avilsn can as well. The point is they’ll be sending down someone who shouldn’t be because the FO isn’t thinking things through clearly, which they are paid a lot of money to do
Jon Weisman
Again, the assumption that your answer is the only answer seems erroneous to me. And anyway, Avilan is only here in the first place because of this front office.
I would really be surprised if you look back on this week and have any regret that Ross Stripling wasn’t around to sit idle and not pitch in Colorado.
throwdeuce
I guess I’ll be shocked if it’s not either Baez or Avilan going down tomorrow. Frankly I’ll be OK if it’s Chavez being DFA, another great move to get him, but I know that’s not happening. I guess I’ll just leave it at that.
throwdeuce
I guess I should have been a little clearer. There’s no reason to give Maeda and Kazmir an extra day off, poor fellas went 4 innings last time out, guess Roberts is pushing them. Stripling could pitch Friday, on normal rest, no need to pitch him in Colorado.
Mark Hagerstrom
Both “fellas” pitched into the seventh last year I me out.
Don Bright
Still that shouldn’t mean they get an extra day off and cause all this other roster manipulation. Chavez sure looked good last night, good thing they got him.
Mark Hagerstrom
Year = time.