Rich Hill could miss extended time with latest blister issue

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Rich Hill left Saturday’s game against the Washington Nationals after throwing just two pitches, and the injury that knocked him out could keep him on the shelf for an extended period of time.

Hill has dealt with blisters for the past several seasons, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the latest is particularly bad. It sounds like the 38-year-old is heading to the disabled list.

It sounds like Rich Hill will miss significant time. Dave Roberts described Hill’s blister as sliced open and said he will require a rehab assignment to prove his readiness. “This is as bad as I’ve seen it,” Roberts said.

— Pedro Moura (@pedromoura) May 20, 2018

Here’s a photo that shows how nasty the damage appears to be this time:

Because if I had to see it, you have to see it. pic.twitter.com/QkmLx9QCDv

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 20, 2018

Hill has struggled this season, posting a 6.20 ERA in six starts. His resurgence over the past couple of years has been one of the reasons the Dodgers have been so successful, but that has not continued in 2018. The left-hander has a sweeping curveball that is difficult for hitters to track, but it also puts pressure on his middle finger and has led to the recurring blister issue.

Not much has gone right for the Dodgers this season, and the guarantee Roberts made after the team’s slow start is looking less likely by the day.