Hill was placed on waivers by the Padres on Tuesday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.
San Diego will hope to get a bit of salary relief on the veteran left-hander, but he could very well pass through waivers unclaimed. Hill, 43, has struggled to a 9.27 ERA in 22.1 innings (five starts, two relief appearances) since being acquired from the Pirates at the Aug. 1 trade deadline.
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Padres' Rich Hill: Banished to bullpen
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Hill worked in relief Sunday in the Padres' 12-2 loss to the Astros, striking out three while giving up two unearned runs on one hit and two walks over three innings.
After failing to escape the second inning while serving up six earned runs in his most recent start Sept. 4 versus the Phillies, Hill was bypassed for the start Sunday in favor of Matt Waldron. Though Waldron was dealt the loss after giving up four earned runs in five innings, he might have performed well enough to maintain the rotation spot over Hill, who lowered his ERA on Sunday but needed 55 pitches just to record his nine outs. Since joining the Padres in an Aug. 1 deal with the Pirates, Hill has gone 0-4 with a 9.27 ERA, 1.84 WHIP and 19:10 K:BB across 22.1 innings over seven appearances (five starts).
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Padres' Rich Hill: Pummeled by Phillies
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Hill (7-14) took the loss against Philadelphia on Monday, allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out three batters over 1.1 innings.
Hill was in trouble from the get-go, allowing four of the first five batters he faced to reach base and yielding three first-inning runs on a bases-clearing double by Alec Bohm. The veteran hurler was allowed to return to the mound for the second, but things got even worse for him, as he surrendered four straight hits -- including a pair of homers -- to lead off the frame. Hill was pulled with a 6-1 deficit after just 1.1 innings, marking his shortest start of the season. Since joining the Padres on Aug. 1, the southpaw has struggled immensely, posting a 10.71 ERA, 1.97 WHIP and 16:8 K:BB over 19.1 frames while losing four times in six decisions. His rotation spot may be in jeopardy despite the fact that Yu Darvish (elbow) was recently placed on the IL.
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Padres' Rich Hill: No-decision in return to rotation
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Hill took a no-decision in Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the Cardinals after striking out two while allowing three earned runs on five hits and one walk across four innings.
The southpaw had made his most recent appearance out of the bullpen this past weekend in Milwaukee after opening his tenure with the Padres with three straight poor starts, but Hill reclaimed a spot in the San Diego rotation this week with Yu Darvish (elbow) heading to the 15-day injured list. Though Hill was spared the loss Wednesday, his performance didn't inspire much confidence that he'll be able to hold down a rotation spot once Darvish is back in the fold. Through five outings with San Diego since being acquired from Pittsburgh on Aug. 1, Hill has gone 0-3 with an 8.50 ERA and 1.61 WHIP over 18 innings.
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Padres' Rich Hill: Rejoining rotation Wednesday
Rotowire
Hill is scheduled to start Wednesday's game against the Cardinals in St. Louis.
After going 0-3 with 9.53 ERA and 1.50 WHIP over his first three starts with the Padres following his acquisition from the Pirates at the trade deadline, Hill had his turn in the rotation skipped last week. He ended up working in relief in Friday's loss to Milwaukee, giving up two runs on four hits and two walks over 2.2 innings. Despite his continued poor results, Hill will get a chance to step back into the San Diego rotation this week, filling the vacancy that was created when Yu Darvish (elbow) was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday.
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Padres' Rich Hill: Turn in rotation gets skipped
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Hill is no longer lined up to make his next turn through the rotation this weekend in Milwaukee, as the Padres have instead named Pedro Avila their starter for Saturday's game against the Brewers, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
The Padres haven't formally announced that Hill will be removed from the rotation, but the veteran southpaw will have at least one turn skipped after going 0-3 with a 9.53 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in three starts since being acquired from the Pirates on Aug. 1. Hill should be available out of the bullpen this weekend and could even piggyback Avila on Saturday. Whether Hill will rejoin the rotation or continue working out of the bullpen next week will likely hinge on how Avila fares in Milwaukee.
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Padres' Rich Hill: Pitches better but still takes loss
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Hill (7-13) took the loss against Arizona on Thursday, allowing three runs on two hits and one walk while striking out three batters over five innings.
Hill had gone a total of 6.1 frames and surrendered nine runs over his first two appearances since joining San Diego, so his five-inning, three-run outing Thursday was a step forward. The veteran hurler retired the first 10 batters he faced and gave up only three baserunners in total, but all three scored, with homers by Tommy Pham and Gabriel Moreno responsible for the damage. Hill has lost all three of his starts as a Padre, posting a 9.53 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 11:3 K:BB over 11.1 frames during that stretch.
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Padres' Rich Hill: Lasts just 3.1 frames in loss
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Hill (7-12) took the loss against Arizona on Saturday, allowing three runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out four batters over 3.1 innings.
Hill allowed four extra-base hits among the seven knocks against him, including a Christian Walker two-run homer. The veteran hurler was pulled after racking up 83 pitches through 3.1 frames, going just one out longer than in his Padres debut, when he allowed six runs over three innings. The pair of outings are Hill's two shortest among his 23 starts this season, so it goes without saying that he's not providing the rotation boost San Diego was hoping for when it acquired him at the trade deadline. Michael Wacha (shoulder) is slated to return Tuesday, but the Padres may need to continue to roll out Hill every five days since Joe Musgrove (shoulder) isn't likely to rejoin the rotation until at least mid-September.
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Padres' Rich Hill: Coughs up six runs
Rotowire
Hill (7-11) allowed six runs on four hits and a walk over three innings Sunday, striking out four and taking a loss against the Dodgers.
The Dodgers plated six runs in the first two innings against Hill, capped off by Freddie Freeman's three-run blast. It was Hll's first outing as a Padre and he gave up six runs for the first time since May 29. The veteran southpaw posted a 5.70 ERA across six July starts and his season ERA has jumped to 5.09. Hill's next start is projected to be in Arizona.
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Padres' Rich Hill: Debut coming Sunday
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Hill is scheduled to make his Padres debut Sunday against the Dodgers, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Hill was acquired from the Pirates -- along with Ji-Man Choi -- on Tuesday in exchange for Jackson Wolf, Estuar Suero and Alfonso Rivas. The veteran left-hander had posted a rather underwhelming 4.76 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 104:47 K:BB through 119 innings (22 starts) this season with Pittsburgh, but he can still work deep in games and miss a few bats at age 43.
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Padres' Rich Hill: Sent to San Diego
Rotowire
San Diego acquired Hill and Ji-Man Choi from the Pirates on Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Hill doesn't carry the "wow" factor of a Justin Verlander or Eduardo Rodriguez, whom the Padres have also been connected to, but the 43-year-old left-hander can be a steadying force for the Padres as they try to make up ground in the NL Wild Card hunt. He had registered a 4.76 ERA and 104:47 K:BB through 119 innings (22 starts) this season with Pittsburgh. San Diego will be his 13th different major-league club, one shy of Edwin Jackson's record of 14.
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Pirates' Rich Hill: Punches out seven in no-decision
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Hill did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks over five innings against the Phillies. He struck out seven.
Hill kept the Phillies off the board until the fourth inning Sunday, when Alec Bohm broke a scoreless tie with a two-run homer. Still, it was a step in the right direction for the 43-year-old southpaw after he'd pitched to a 6.30 ERA over his previous four outings. Overall, Hill is 7-10 through 22 starts (119 innings) this season with a 4.76 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 104:47 K:BB. His next start is currently lined up for next week against the Brewers.
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Pirates' Rich Hill: Lasts 4.1 frames in loss
Rotowire
Hill (7-10) took the loss Tuesday in San Diego after he allowed two runs on seven hits and two walks across 4.1 innings. He struck out three.
The left-hander gave up fewer than three runs for the first time since June 9, but he was unable to make it through the fifth inning versus the Friars. Hill has a 1-5 record in his past eight starts with a 5.83 ERA, 1.66 WHIP and 30:21 K:BB over 41.2 innings during that span. The 43-year-old tentatively lines up to face the Tigers next week, which could put him on the streaming radar despite the recent struggles.
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Pirates' Rich Hill: Allows four runs in no-decision
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Hill did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing four runs on eight hits and one walk over 5.2 innings against Cleveland while striking out one.
Hill cruised through the first three innings before allowing three consecutive singles with one out in the fourth, which led to the first run of the game coming across for Cleveland. The veteran righty again found himself in trouble in the fifth after giving up a leadoff single to Myles Straw to open the frame. He would go on to allow three runs in the inning as the Pirates fell behind 4-2. Hill has allowed at least three runs in each of his last seven starts and now holds a 6.53 ERA in July after maintaining a 3.86 ERA during June. He's also lost four of his last five decisions.
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Pirates' Rich Hill: Quality start in no-decision
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Hill did not factor into the decision Friday, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings against the Giants. He struck out two.
It was not the most impressive performance you'll ever see, but Hill met the requirements for a quality start -- his first since June 9. At 43 years old, Hill is the stereotypical crafty lefty who gets by with his curveball, guts and moxie. He can still be useful as a streaming option, but it's best to avoid him in tough matchups. Hill will head into his next start with a 4.76 ERA and 1.44 WHIP across 104 innings this season.
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Pirates' Rich Hill: Takes ninth loss
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Hill (7-9) took the loss Friday, allowing five runs on seven hits and four walks over four innings against Arizona. He struck out three.
Hill continued his struggles Friday, as he has now allowed at least three runs in five straight starts. The southpaw's ERA of 4.78 would be his highest mark since 2013. The veteran's next chance to redeem himself is tentatively slated to be against the Giants at home after the All-Star break.
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Pirates' Rich Hill: Falls to Milwaukee
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Hill (7-8) took the loss Sunday, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks over five innings against the Brewers. He struck out eight.
All the damage against Hill came on William Contreras' three-run homer in the third inning. The 43-year-old southpaw has struggled a bit over his last four starts, pitching to a 5.48 ERA in that span. Hill now sports a 4.50 ERA with a 1.38 WHIP and 88:35 K:BB across 17 starts (94 innings) this season. Hill is currently lined up for a road matchup with the Diamondbacks in his next outing.
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Pirates' Rich Hill: Notches seventh win
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Hill (7-7) earned the win Tuesday, allowing four runs on nine hits and two walks over six innings against the Padres. He struck out four.
After allowing three runs in the second inning, Hill settled down to hold the Padres to one run over his final four frames as the Pirates rallied for a 9-4 victory. The 43-year-old Hill has struggled a bit of late, pitching to a 5.51 ERA over his last three starts. He has a 4.45 ERA with a 1.40 WHIP and 80:33 K:BB through 16 starts (89 innings) this season. Hill currently lines up to face the Brewers at home in his next outing.
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Pirates' Rich Hill: Handed seventh loss
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Hill (6-7) took the loss Wednesday, allowing five runs (three earned) on four hits and two walks over 5.2 innings against the Cubs. He struck out four.
Though Hill allowed just four hits on the day, three were extra-base hits, highlighted by a two-RBI triple by Nico Hoerner and a two-RBI double by Ian Happ. The untimely hits resulted in Hill's seventh loss of the season, tied for the fifth most in MLB. Despite posting a 6-7 record through 15 starts (83 innings), Hill has allowed more than three earned runs just four times all year with a 4.34 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and a 76:31 K:BB. The 43-year-old is tentatively scheduled to make his next appearance at home against the Padres.
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Pirates' Rich Hill: Wins second straight decision
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Hill (6-5) earned the win Friday, allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks over seven innings against the Mets. He struck out six.
Hill was dominant throughout the evening, throwing 72 of his season-high 119 pitches for strikes and inducing 11 swinging strikes. The veteran southpaw did not allow a runner past first base after the third inning. Hill has looked great over his last two starts, tossing 13.2 innings while allowing just three runs and striking out 12. The 43-year-old will be looking for his third consecutive quality start next week on the road against the Cubs.
