With some adjustment to account for Hyun-Jin Ryu landing on the 10-day disabled list with a left foot contusion, the Los Angeles Dodgers have their probable starters set for each of the remaining five games prior to the All-Star break.
The club aligned their rotation so that Clayton Kershaw, Alex Wood and Rich Hill would all take the mound against the Arizona Diamondbacks. There was some uncertainty heading into the weekend, though that was resolved in some part with Ryu’s status.
Kenta Maeda is making another start, on Friday, and he’ll be followed in the weekend by Brandon McCarthy and Kershaw. Sunday’s game could change if the Dodgers elect to allow for Kershaw to remain eligible to pitch in the All-Star Game.
Once possibility that was ruled out is Scott Kazmir. He’s scheduled to make a third rehab start with High-A Rancho Cucamonga, and said for all intents and purposes he’s on a schedule similar to that of Spring Training, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
Scott Kazmir scheduled to make 3rd rehab start for @RCQuakes Fri. Said it feels like spring training all over again but going well #Dodgers
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) July 4, 2017
Kazmir has thrown three innings in each of his first two starts with the Quakes. In his last outing, the southpaw retired the first seven batters faced. He ultimately allowed one run to score on a wild pitch, and completed throwing in the bullpen.
Kazmir began the season on the disabled list because of the same lower-back and hip trouble that sidelined him last year. It limited Kazmir to just three starts during the spring, and in turn led to several bullpen sessions aimed at improving mechanics.
Including this season, the 33-year-old has two years remaining on a three-year contract he signed with the Dodgers in December 2015.
