DENVER _ The Dodgers on Friday placed left-hander Rich Hill on the disabled list with a recurrence of the blister issue that sidelined him for several weeks last season.
The blister on the middle finger of Hill's pitching hand began "heating up" during the final inning of his five-inning, 75-pitch start against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday. Hill offered to pitch out of the bullpen while someone else took his next start, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, but the decision was made to "get ahead of this" and place him on the DL.
"In that fifth inning, I noticed I kind of touched my thumb to my middle finger and it was hot," Hill said. "The skin was coming up a little bit. So I realized I'd better say something.
"All spring training I didn't deal with it at all. It was fine. For it to pop up after one start was frustrating."
Reliever Josh Fields was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City to take Hill's place on the roster. The Dodgers have not named a starter for Monday's game in Chicago, Hill's next scheduled turn, but pitching coach Rick Honeycutt acknowledged left-hander Alex Wood is the most likely option. Right-hander Ross Stripling could also come out of the bullpen to make the start.
Because the DL is now 10 days instead of the former 15, Hill will be eligible to come off one week from Sunday and could miss only one start.
