Scott Kazmir returned to the mound with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night for the first time since he was put on the 15-day disabled list with neck inflammation. But similar to his rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City, the outing was cut short due to injury.
Kazmir allowed two hits and threw 19 pitches in a scoreless first inning. He never stepped foot on the mound after that. Kazmir was removed due to right intercostal spasms. “There was something going on with his body, his rib cage area, just didn’t feel like he could perform the way he’s capable of,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
“For him to be responsible enough to pass the baton to [Ross Stripling], I thought that was pretty unselfish of Kaz. I feel bad for him. He’s been through so much, but it was good of Strip to give us three innings.”
After suffering a setback in a rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City, Kazmir was diagnosed with thoracic spine inflammation. He also developed a blister after throwing a simulated nearly one week ago.
Kazmir likened Friday’s issue to what he experienced with Oklahoma City. “As I got back up, everything on that side just started to tighten up. It was the same thing that happened in OKC, just not as bad,” he said.
“It was tough for me to swallow to only go one inning. It’s awesome what Strip and all those guys did.” Kazmir added he believed progress nonetheless was made and he’ll continue with treatment in effort to pitch again this season.
Kazmir did not believe the spasms were a setback. What the next two weeks hold for the 32-year-old is unknown. He was already facing an uphill battle to be part of a potential postseason rotation considering the one month missed.
The Dodgers shuffled their rotation for the next handful of games, including scratching Rich Hill from Sunday’s start and penciling him for Oct. 1 or 2. Roberts did not name a starter for Thursday’s series finale against the San Diego Padres, which Kazmir conceivably could make.
