The Los Angeles Dodgers have dropped the first two games against the Miami Marlins in Don Mattingly’s return to Dodger Stadium, and now must win Wednesday to avoid losing the series. Left-hander Scott Kazmir gets the start for Los Angeles, as expected despite Kazmir dealing with left thumb/wrist soreness.
The veteran has not gotten off to a good start to the 2016 campaign, as he is 1-1 with a 6.63 ERA, 6.05 FIP and 1.42 WHIP in four starts. In 19 innings, Kazmir has given up 21 hits and issued six walks while striking out 15.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he’ll be watching Kazmir’s fastball command and depth on his changeup as a true gauge of how healthy the southpaw is. “[The changeup] has been his best secondary pitch,” Roberts said. “And over the last couple of starts, he hasn’t been able to get the depth and finish hitters with it. It’s a swing-and-miss pitch.”
In four career starts against Miami, Kazmir is 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 24 innings. Kazmir allowed six hits and four runs in just five innings of work against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in his last outing.
The Marlins originally had Jarred Cosart lined up to start Wednesday, but he instead was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans in favor of Justin Nicolino, who was recalled from Triple-A.
Nicolino went 5-4 with a 4.01 ERA in 12 starts last season, which was his first experience in the Majors. He was 2-2 with a 3.60 ERA and 1.12 WHIP over four starts in the Minors this season. Nicolino faced the Dodgers last June, giving up six hits and five runs while striking out two in a loss.
The Dodgers once again go to a right-handed heavy lineup with a left-hander on the mound. Kiké Hernandez gets the start in left field and bats leadoff. He’s hitting .533 (8-for-15) with two home runs, two doubles and four RBIs against lefties this season.
In addition, Hernandez is batting .500 (9-for-18) as the Dodgers’ leadoff man. Trayce Thompson starts in place of Joc Pederson in center field. Thompson is batting .333 (6-for-18) with a home run and two RBIs against left-handerss.
Los Angeles native Giancarlo Stanton is once again hitting cleanup for the Marlins in Mattingly’s lineup. Stanton has homered in three consecutive games, including the last two at Dodger Stadium, where he has faired well in his career. Stanton is batting .313 with eight home runs and 20 RBIs in 17 career games at Dodger Stadium.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Kiké Hernandez
RF: Yasiel Puig
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
3B: Justin Turner
SS: Corey Seager
2B: Howie Kendrick
C: A.J. Ellis
CF: Trayce Thompson
P: Scott Kazmir
Marlins lineup:
2B: Dee Gordon
3B: Martin Prado
LF: Christian Yelich
RF: Giancarlo Stanton
CF: Marcel Ozuna
C: J.T. Realmuto
1B: Chris Johnson
SS: Adeiny Hechavarria
P: Justin Nicolino
