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Los Angeles Dodgers: Rich Hill Says He Is Starting Game 5 of NLDS

By Matt Weyrich |
Oct 9, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Rich Hill (44) pitches against the Washington Nationals during the fourth inning during game two of the 2016 NLDS playoff baseball series at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Rich Hill (44) pitches against the Washington Nationals during the fourth inning during game two of the 2016 NLDS playoff baseball series at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Rich Hill has announced that he will be taking the mound in D.C. on Thursday for Game 5 of the NLDS.

With the series knotted at 2-2, the Dodgers and Nationals will head to Washington to decide who gets the chance to knock off the Chicago Cubs in the NLCS. The Nats, who opted not to use Max Scherzer in Game 4, will have their ace on the hill. Los Angeles burned Clayton Kershaw on Tuesday, leaving them with either rookie Julio Urias or 36-year-old Rich Hill on three days’ rest for Game 5.

Manager Dave Roberts has reportedly chosen to give the ball to Hill, according to the veteran lefty. The team has not officially announced. The Boston native started Game 2 of the series for the Dodgers, taking the loss after allowing four runs on six hits with two walks and seven strikeouts over four-and-a-third innings. He was excellent on the mound for L.A. during the regular season, posting a 1.83 ERA in 34.1 innings.

“It is a cliché saying, but this is why you play,” Hill said. “There is nothing to hold back. I know it’s short rest, but physically I feel great.” (h/t Doug Padilla, ESPN)

Hill’s health has been a major issue for a majority of this season. While still with Oakland, he left his start on July 17 with a blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand. He would not pitch for the A’s again, as Oakland traded him to Los Angeles at the trade deadline while he was still on the disabled list. He made six starts for the Dodgers down the stretch, putting up impressive numbers but never exceeding 93 pitches in an outing.

Hill would be the second consecutive pitcher to start for the Dodgers on three days’ rest after Kershaw did so in Game 4. The Dodgers’ ace cruised until the seventh inning, when he exited the game with two outs and the bases loaded only to see reliever Pedro Baez allow all three runners to score. Los Angeles eventually won the game anyway, setting up a decisive Game 5 in the nation’s capital.

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Hill, who has pitched for eight different teams across 12 seasons, will be looking to improve on his career 8.59 postseason ERA. Matched up against a Nationals lineup that finished second highest in the NL with a .783 OPS versus lefties, he has a tall task ahead of him. Coupled with Scherzer on the mound for Washington, there will be little margin for error.

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