Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Scott Kazmir was removed from his rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday night in the first inning. The game is the opener of a best-of-five first-round matchup against Nashville Sounds (Oakland Athletics affiliate).
Kazmir retired two of seven batters faced prior to coming out. A trainer checked on Kazmir after he hit his second batter of the inning. The Dodgers later announced Kazmir suffered a setback in right neck/rib cage area, and was returning to Los Angeles for further examination.
Lisalverto Bonilla, who was scheduled to start Game 4 (if necessary) for Oklahoma City, was pressed into emergency relief duty.
Kazmir got off to a rocky start as he issued a leadoff walk, hit a batter, then gave up a three-run homer with one out. The start was his first since being put on the 15-day disabled list Aug. 23.
The official diagnosis was neck inflammation, which affected Kazmir’s mechanics and command. He was encouraged after throwing a simulated game last week.
Kazmir’s inability to get through the start may lead to Jose De Leon taking another turn in the Dodgers’ rotation.
Manager Dave Roberts recently said De Leon’s immediate future was tied to how Kazmir faired in his rehab outing. Assuming the Dodgers don’t make any changes to their plan, that spot in the rotation is due up next week when the club faces the New York Yankees.
Come Friday, Los Angeles will have a rotation that consists of Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill and Kenta Maeda, followed by question marks. Along with De Leon, Brock Stewart, Ross Stripling and Julio Urias have been among the pitchers to fill in.
Urias has again tentatively been placed in the bullpen. Stewart and Stripling conceivably could fill the void while the Dodgers await the potential returns of Brett Anderson, Kazmir and Brandon McCarthy.
