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Dodgers News: Mike Bolsinger Starting In Place Of Scott Kazmir

Matthew Moreno
3 Min Read
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Already needing to find a replacement for Brett Anderson in the starting rotation as the left-hander will miss the next three to five months after undergoing back surgery for a bulging disk, the Los Angeles Dodgers have worked a small juggling act with their starting pitchers in recent days.

Then with the Dodgers scheduled for split-squad games against the Chicago Cubs and Seattle Mariners, Alex Wood was scratched due to left forearm soreness. Brandon Beachy, originally slated to face the Mariners, started in Wood’s place against the Cubs.

Carlos Frias made his first start of the spring as he was tapped to replace Beachy. On Sunday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced Scott Kazmir will pitch in a B game on a back field at Camelback Ranch.

Kazmir was scheduled to start Monday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Dodgers will instead send Mike Bolsinger to the hill, per Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:

According to Alanna Rizzo of SportsNet LA, Bolsinger will throw four innings or 60 pitches in his first start of 2016 Spring Training:

Bolsinger has made two relief appearances this spring, allowing a combined two runs, walking two and collecting four strikeouts over five innings pitched. He went 6-6 with a 3.62 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 21 starts for the Dodgers last season.

Bolsinger was 3-1 with a 1.05 ERA in four May starts (25.2 innings pitched). He slowed a bit in June and July, but was still effective (4.40 ERA and 1.47 WHIP in June, and 3.00 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in July).

After the Dodgers acquired Mat Latos and Wood in a three-team trade, they sent Bolsinger back to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Upon returning to the Majors in September, Bolsinger went 1-3 with a 7.08 ERA, 8.35 FIP and 1.91 WHIP, while allowing eight home runs in five starts (20.1 innings pitched) over the final month of the regular season.

In 10 games (eight starts) with the OKC Dodgers, Bolsinger was 3-3 with a 2.31 ERA and 1.03 WHIP. He said recently the poor showing in September is serving as motivation moving forward.

The 28 year old is among the multiple pitchers competing for the fifth spot in the Dodgers’ rotation.

Matthew Moreno is a journalist from Whittier, Calif., who is a credentialed reporter and is currently the Managing Editor of DodgerBlue.com and LakersNation.com. In addition to covering Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angels Lakers, Matthew has a strong passion for keeping up to date with the sneakerhead culture. It began with Michael Jordan and Air Jordan shoes, and has carried over to Kobe Bryant's signature line with Nike. Matthew previously was the lead editor and digital strategist at Dodgers Nation, and the co-editor and lead writer at Reign of Troy, where he covered USC Trojans Football. Matthew graduated from California State Long Beach University with a major in journalism and minor in communications. Contact: matt@mediumlargela.com