UPDATE (March 20, 1:31 p.m. PT): The Los Angeles Dodgers officially announced Bolsinger was scratched due to abdominal tightness on his left side. He’s listed as day-to-day.
The Los Angeles Dodgers scratched right-hander Mike Bolsinger minutes before his scheduled start on Sunday against the San Diego Padres. Jeremy Kehrt started in place of Bolsinger.
Kehrt started 22 games last season for Double-A Tulsa, posting a 3.46 ERA and 1.22 WHIP. The news came soon after the club announced Zach Lee was optioned to Minor League camp.
Along with Brandon Beachy, Bolsinger and Lee are the primary candidates to be named the Dodgers’ fifth starter once they break camp for the regular season.
Bolsinger threw four scoreless innings against the Milwaukee Brewers in his last outing, which was his first start of Spring Training this year.
According to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, the 28 year old was scratched due to abdominal tightness:
Bolsinger has abdominal tightness, day to day.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) March 20, 2016
Bolsinger was 6-6 with a 3.62 ERA, 3.91 FIP and 1.36 WHIP in 21 starts with the Dodgers last season. He was 3-1 in May with a 1.05 ERA in four starts (25.2 innings pitched), then owned a 4.40 ERA and 1.47 WHIP in June, and 3.00 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in July.
Bolsinger was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City after the Dodgers acquired Mat Latos and Alex Wood in a three-team trade with the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins.
.