Dodgers: Rich Hill hurt, Los Angeles set opening rotation

With Opening Day rapidly approaching and the Dodgers looking more like a hospital than a baseball team, Dave Roberts announced the team’s starting rotation for the opening series of the season against the Diamondbacks.

The news about Clayton Kershaw was already well out there and circulated. With his health in a state of question and the start to his season delayed, the 30-year-old Dodger ace will not open the year on the active roster.

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Dave Roberts did, however, tell media that Kershaw has been throwing bullpens successfully and without issue. Where the puts him in terms of proximity to a return, there is no word on that but, it’s more than safe to assume that this is a lengthier comeback routine than just one missed start.

The reason this could take a bit longer than the average person hopes is Kershaw has yet to throw to live in-game hitters and he has not gone more than the equivalent of three innings.

So, with the pace of his comeback being catered to him like a fancy dinner, Kershaw’s comeback is entirely dependent on how he and the coaches feel.

That news was known already. Kershaw has been out of the opening day mix for a while now and everything I just said is par for the previously set course.

The newest news, however, is Rich Hill is going to open the year on the injured list.

The recently turned 39-year-old, Hill is dealing with an MCL sprain on his left knee. The injury will prevent him from making an opening day start and will force Hyun-Jin Ryu into his first day one starting gig.

Ryu will become the second Korean born Dodger in the history of the franchise to make an opening day start.

Following Ryu, the Dodgers will go with Ross Stripling, Kenta Maeda, and Walker Buehler in that order to face the Dbacks.

For the Dodgers, the injury-ridden start to the 2019 season is not ideal. But, with depth out the ears especially in the pitching department, Los Angeles is built to survive issues exactly like this.