Rich Hill, on the 10-day disabled list for the second time this month because of a blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand, threw a three-inning, 48-pitch simulated game Saturday.
“I thought it was successful,”manager Dave Roberts said. “The blister held up.”
The veteran left-hander threw his fastball and curve with maximum effort. The curve, which Hill grips at the seams and snaps off violently, creates most of the friction that leads to the blisters.
Barring setback, Roberts said Hill will throw four innings and about 60 pitches in a rehabilitation start for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga at Lake Elsinore on Thursday night and return to the rotation in the second week of May.