Scott Kazmir’s tenure with the Los Angeles Dodgers got off to a rocky start as he struggled through his first two Cactus League outings, throwing just 3.2 innings and giving up 12 hits and seven runs. The southpaw was then skipped over in the rotation as he elected to pitch in a B game.
Kazmir showed improvement after working on his mechanics on a backfield at Camelback Ranch, and threw six shutout innings in regular-season debut against the San Diego Padres. However, Kazmir had trouble a second consecutive time with a more potent San Francisco Giants lineup.
He allowed four runs over four innings pitched, walked four, threw 93 pitches, including a pair of wild pitches, and had three strikeouts. Despite that, Kazmir came away from the outing generally pleased.
“In the early going, there were a couple of wild pitches that didn’t look very well but overall, I actually felt really good,” he said. “I was looking at video of pitches that were not aggressive, the fifth inning is something that’s really frustrating. Not attacking hitters and getting out of my game.”
Kazmir specifically highlighted his fastball velocity and command of his changeup. He lamented some of the trouble encountered in sequencing and setting batters up. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was complimentary of his left-hander.
“I think Kaz threw the ball much better tonight, the stuff was better. They extended some at-bats, but he was out there competing,” Roberts said. “I’m encouraged, because when you see a team in back-to-back starts, it’s tougher for the pitcher. His stuff played up tonight. I don’t think it was reflected in results. … I don’t think in San Francisco his stuff was sharp, but tonight it was more crisp.”
On the season, Kazmir is 1-1 with a 6.43 ERA, 5.49 FIP and 1.43 WHIP in three starts. “It’s frustrating,” he said of results not reflecting how he believes he’s pitching. “But I know I’m on the right path. Just have to keep going out there and working.”
