UPDATE (March 13, 4:40 p.m. PT): The Los Angeles Dodgers will start Mike Bolsinger in place of Scott Kazmir on Monday.
After multiple seasons of relying on Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw to anchor and lead the starting rotation, the Los Angeles Dodgers shifted to a philosophy that focuses on depth heading into the 2016 season.
In signing Scott Kazmir and Kenta Maeda over the winter, Los Angeles projected to have a minimum of six viable starting pitchers come Opening Day. That total excluded Brandon McCarthy (recovering from Tommy John surgery) and the likes of Brandon Beachy, Mike Bolsinger, Zach Lee and Frankie Montas.
However, in the time since, Anderson underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a bulging disk in his back, Montas had rib resection surgery, and Ryu pushed his expected return date back to some time in May.
As for newcomers Kazmir and Maeda, the southpaw has been inconsistent over two Cactus League starts, while the Japanese native has impressed. Of course, Spring Training statistics are thrown out the window come the regular season.
Nonetheless, Kazmir won’t make his scheduled start on Monday and instead will pitch in a B game against the Chicago White Sox on a back field at Camelback Ranch, per Bill Plunkett of the OC Register:
Scott Kazmir will pitch in B game Monday to work on rhythym/tempo/things. Dave Roberts not sure who will start Cactus League game v #Brewers
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) March 13, 2016
Kazmir has allowed a combined seven runs on six hits, walked two and collected three strikeouts over 3.2 innings pitched in his pair of outings. He was knocked out of the game after just 1.2 innings by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in his last start.
Yasmani Grandal, who has missed the past few games with a right arm contusion, will catch Kazmir:
Yasmani Grandal (forearm contusion) is resuming baseball activities today. Will catch Kazmir in B game Monday. #Dodgers
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) March 13, 2016
Meanwhile, Justin Turner is expected to start at third base for Dodgers when they host the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday, according to DodgerTalk host David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports Radio:
Justin Turner will play in Cactus League game at 3B on Monday #Dodgers
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) March 13, 2016
Turner has yet to appear in a Cactus League game this spring. He underwent microfracture knee surgery during the offseason and the Dodgers have cautiously ushered him along the rehab process.
Turner was initially projected to start as the designated hitter on Monday. However, he’s managed to get through Minor League games without issue, prompting the change. The Dodgers have been thin at third base as Alex Guerrero hasn’t played since March 4 due to left knee soreness.
