Dodgers' Hill, besieged by blisters, wants permission to tape fingers in games

Blisters have long been an issue for Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Rich Hill, and he's tired of dealing with them.

Hill, who landed on the disabled list this weekend after a blister popped just two pitches into his start on Saturday, wants to solve his blister issues by pitching with tape on his fingers once he returns. The tape would presumably prevent him from developing blisters, much the way hitters wear it to protect their fingers while swinging a bat.

But taping his fingers is illegal under the rules of baseball, as the tape itself is considered something of a foreign substance that could theoretically give pitchers an advantage, or even inadvertently doctor the baseball. Hill disputed that notion, and told reports that he's considering asking the commissioner's office for an exemption in order to wear tape during games.

"It's not aiding, at all," Hill said Monday, according to Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times. "Believe me. You take away the feel of the baseball. But you're still able to obviously throw."

Although Hill wore the tape while throwing at Dodger Stadium on Monday, wearing it in a game when he returns - whenever that may be - doesn't appear likely. Manager Dave Roberts said he doesn't believe MLB will grant Hill the exemption.

Last year, Hill made similar comments while battling a blister when he advocated for the league to allow pitchers - including himself - to wear band-aids while pitching.

In the meantime, the 38-year-old Hill said he's trying a variety of remedies to get rid of this blister, including laser therapy, chugging apple cider vinegar, and urinating on the blister. He's already familiar with the latter, rather gross method, having tried it during a bout of blisters in 2016.

Hill's latest blister problem is expected to keep him out of action for at least the next month.