McCarthy, Hill set to return from DL for starts
DENVER -- Of the seven pitchers to start games for the Dodgers this season, four have served time on the disabled list, with three currently on it. There's been a cyclical pattern to the health of the starting rotation, and the health should approach a peak as two starters are
DENVER -- Of the seven pitchers to start games for the Dodgers this season, four have served time on the disabled list, with three currently on it. There's been a cyclical pattern to the health of the starting rotation, and the health should approach a peak as two starters are set to come off the DL over the next two days.
"Mac threw a simulated game a few days ago," manager Dave Roberts said before Sunday's series finale in Colorado. "Went four [innings] and 60 [pitches]. He's chomping at the bit. We expect him to be sharp and go out there and give us a chance to win."
The sim game and a couple side sessions have been the extent of McCarthy's activity since he last pitched April 29 against Philadelphia.
The two starters to return from the DL so far both did so as soon as they were eligible and had issues in their first outing back.
Roberts confirmed that Hill will be reactivated to pitch Tuesday in San Francisco.
The depth of strong starting pitching has enabled the Dodgers to cycle starters on and off the roster, and they've carried four starting pitchers and an extra reliever throughout the four-game set in Colorado.
"Right now we're at a full bench, but we've gone four," Roberts said of the balancing act with his roster. "We might go four here in the next few days. I'm fine with that. With the four starters on the roster, we've got eight in the 'pen. When Mac comes back, we're going to have to make a move. But we have versatility with the roster as far as position players."
Add in injured position players like outfielders
"We're getting the starting pitching that we had hoped to get," Roberts said. "The hitting, the fielding, the timely hitting, the 'pen, kind of feeds off that. You look at the schedule for May, and to come in here for four games then you go into San Francisco after that, this is a tall order, a big ask, for a club. For us now to have a chance to win the series, we're in a good spot."
Owen Perkins is a contributor to MLB.com based in Denver.