The availability of the Hawaii baseball team’s best pitcher is in question for Friday’s season opener against Portland.

In the Rainbow Warriors’ 20-5 rout of an alumni team on Saturday at Les Murakami Stadium, starting pitcher Dylan Thomas was pulled after three scoreless innings when he experienced problems with a blister on the index finger of his right (throwing) hand. Thomas had been announced as the ’Bows’ opening-day starter.

“The biggest thing was Dylan’s blister coming back,” UH coach Mike Trapasso said. “I think that puts next weekend in jeopardy because I’m not going to go through this every week where we don’t know how it’s going to feel. If it takes missing a couple starts and letting that thing heal completely, that’s what we’re going to do. … Sorry for all the excitement after naming him a starter for the Portland series. It may not happen.”

Thomas developed the blister during Tuesday’s scrimmage. Medication was applied to help dry out the blister. But in the second inning, the blister began to affect Thomas’ grip on the slider.

“But that’s my out pitch that I throw a lot,” said Thomas, who did not have issues with his fastball or change-up.

Thomas allowed four hits while striking out four in three innings. He threw strikes on 44 of his 58 pitches. But Trapasso said: “He was throwing 83 miles an hour with a bad slider. You can’t pitch with that. That makes it an easy decision, really.”

Of possible blister treatments, Trapasso said, “the old-timers will tell you to put your finger in pickle juice, and it works. … Obviously, whatever we were using after his last start didn’t work. Maybe we need to go with the pickle juice. We’ll figure it out.”

Trapasso said freshman Aaron Davenport and sophomore left-hander Jeremy Wu-Yelland are scheduled to pitch in the four-game series against Portland. If Thomas is held out, Cade Smith, Dominic DeMiero and Kash Koltermann are candidates to fill starting spots.

“We’ve got plenty of guys,” Trapasso said. “It’s not something I’m losing sleep over.”

The ’Bows had little trouble against the alumni. Right fielder Jacob Sniffin hit two inside-the-park homers. Left fielder Scotty Scott scored four runs after reaching on a triple, a single and two walks. Second baseman Jack Kennelly went 4-for-5.

Trapasso held out shortstop Maaki Yamazaki and second baseman Tyler Best, both of whom are recovering from ailments. They will be ready for the Portland series. That meant moving Ethan Lopez from third to short and starting Logan Pouelsen at third. Pouelsen, who weighs 235 after losing more than 20 pounds, hit a triple, stole a base and played flawless defense. The ’Bows did not commit any errors.

“I’ve always said Logan is a good athlete in a bad body,” Trapasso said. “He’ll always give you a chance.”

The ’Bows scored seven runs in the second to take an 8-0 lead. The alumni answered with five in the seventh to close to 9-5. But the ’Bows scored six in the bottom of the seventh and five in the eighth.

The alumni wore numberless shirts and an assortment of pants and shorts, and rearranged the lineup several times. Nate Jackson, a former UH baseball and football player, struck out in his only at-bat. Kaeo Aliviado, who throws with his left hand, played second. He turned a double play with a full-turn pivot.

“I don’t think we were really good, but we weren’t bad,” Trapasso said. “We could have been better, but you always can.”