Rich Hill’s debut for Los Angeles Dodgers to be delayed

 The Los Angeles Dodgers need pitching help, but they’ll have to wait a bit longer for Rich Hill to make his team debut.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers made a notable trade ahead of last Monday’s deadline, acquiring outfielder Josh Reddick and left-handed starter Rich Hill from the Oakland Athletics. Reddick has stepped right into the Dodgers’ lineup, and Hill was slated to make his debut for the team Sunday against the Boston Red Sox.

But it’s not to be, as Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday that Hill has been scratched from his scheduled start due to a recurrence of a blister issue on his pitching hand. Hill threw a bullpen session on Friday, and apparently felt remnants of the blister issue that dates back close to a month now. He had a start postponed in mid-July, and then had to leave his final start for Oakland on July 17 after just five pitches.

A groin issue landed Hill on the disabled list for a month in early June, so he has only made three starts since Memorial Day. But he has been very good when available this year, going 9-3 with a 2.25 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP and 90 strikeouts over 76 innings (14 starts), and since he is slated to hit free agency after the season the Dodgers clearly saw acceptable risk in acquiring him.

The Dodgers will be without Clayton Kershaw (back) until at least late this month, and Bud Norris was recently added to their litany of starting pitcher injuries with a back issue of his own. So Hill’s presence is much-needed, and there’s light at the end of the tunnel with Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reporting next Friday as the new target for his Dodgers debut.