While Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts ruled out a return this season for Franklin Gutierrez and Adam Liberatore, starting pitchers Scott Kazmir and Brandon McCarthy may rejoin the club prior to the regular season ending.
McCarthy started for High-A Rancho Cucamonga on Friday night in Game 3 of their playoff series with the Lancaster JetHawks (Colorado Rockies affiliate). He pitched the scheduled five innings and allowed three runs on seven hits, while collecting four strikeouts against one walk.
McCarthy, who was displeased with a previous rehab start he made for the Quakes, has been on the disabled list since July 24 (retroactive to July 21) due to a blister on the third finger of his right hand. He’s also suffered from knee tendinitis this season.
On the year McCarthy is 6-4 with a 3.84 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 16 starts. He failed to go five innings in three of four starts leading up to his stint on the disabled list.
Roberts did not formally rule out McCarthy as a candidate to make the Dodgers postseason roster, but he’s a considerable long shot. The picture is much for clear for Kazmir, who has not pitched this season.
Should the southpaw manage to come off the 60-day DL, he still would not join the Dodgers in the playoffs. “For him to have an opportunity to finish his season on a high note, that’s a good thing,” Roberts said. “I applaud him for wanting to see it through.”
Kazmir has been dogged by hip trouble since Spring Training, which impacted his mechanics and velocity. The Dodgers put Kazmir on a weighted ball program and had him work with a body mechanics specialist, though it didn’t amount to desired results.
