This spring has been a rough one for Los Angeles Dodgers veteran starter Scott Kazmir. This, after ending last season on the disabled list due to hip, neck and back injuries.
Kazmir’s hip issue returned in his second start of Spring Training, as after throwing one pitching in the second inning of his March 6 outing, he was removed due to hip tightness. An MRI came back negative, but Kazmir was removed from the rotation.
He spent time refining his throwing mechanics and working to overcome the balky hip during live batting practice and pitching in a Minor League game. Kazmir returned to Cactus League action on Sunday against the Texas Rangers.
He labored through three innings, giving up three hits and three runs while walking five and hitting two.
Following the loss, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts conceded Kazmir is not pitching to the level that warrants being part of the club’s starting rotation, via Bill Plunkett of the O.C. Register:
“We’re going to have a discussion over the next day or two on what’s best for him and what’s best for us,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “But obviously where he’s at right now it just doesn’t make sense, just competitively where he is at right now, for him to be out there on a major-league field.”
With the Dodgers’ starting pitching depth, they can afford to place Kazmir on the disabled list at the outset of the season. Should that be the course of action decided on, the left-hander could be left in extended Spring Training or pitch in rehab games with a Minor League affiliate.
As it currently stands Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill and Kenta Maeda are locks to make the rotation. Brandon McCarthy, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Alex Wood are battling for the remaining two spots.
Kazmir still has two years remaining on the three-year, $48 million contract he signed with the Dodgers prior to the 2016 season. He decided against opting out of the deal last November.
