Dodgers continue to be careful with Hill

LOS ANGELES — It’s common knowledge that the Dodgers have been as cautious as possible with Trade Deadline acquisition Rich Hill and his blisters; pulling him after seven perfect innings last week at 89 pitches made that apparent enough.

The Dodgers showed that caution again in Tuesday’s 2-0 loss to the Giants, pulling Hill when he was sitting at 77 pitches after five good innings. Hill’s spot in the lineup was due to lead off the bottom of the fifth, and manager Dave Roberts batted Howie Kendrick in place of Hill.

While pulling a pitcher that early seems exceptionally cautious, it remains all part of the plan as the Dodgers try to make sure their current rotation doesn’t succumb to the health woes that have struck often throughout the season.

“Where we’re at right now, we just can’t afford any setbacks,” Roberts said. “Very important game, I just didn’t know how much longer he was going to go. … It was going to be another inning at the most anyway.”

Hill missed more than a month between July and August when a pair of blisters on his left index finger …

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