After opening their 2016 Spring Training schedule with a win on Thursday against the Chicago White Sox, the Los Angeles Dodgers now travel down the road to face the Texas Rangers at Surprise Stadium.
Like the Dodgers, Texas is coming off a win in their Cactus League opener as they shutout the Kansas City Royals, 10-0. The victory was the Rangers’ second straight over the reigning World Series champions.
Following Clayton Kershaw in the Dodgers’ rotation is offseason signee and fellow southpaw, Scott Kazmir. The 32 year old was inked to a three-year, $48 million contract last December, essentially signing on to face the challenge of helping replace Zack Greinke.
Although Kazmir takes the ball after Kershaw, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said recently not to read into the starting rotation order during Spring Training.
That came prior to news of Brett Anderson undergoing back surgery that puts him on the shelf for the next three to five months. Kazmir has thrown a total of four bullpen sessions since camp opened, and one live batting practice — facing hitters on Feb. 28.
His last bullpen session was on Tuesday. As Kershaw did in his first outing, Kazmir is only expected to toss two innings. However, his start could be cut “short” if pitch count becomes an issue.
Kazmir was 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA and 0.78 WHIP in four Cactus League starts with the Oakland Athletics last year. It was the second consecutive spring he posted a sub-2.00 ERA with Oakland.
Kazmir went on to post a combined 7-11 record with a 3.10 ERA, 3.98 FIP and 1.21 WHIP with the Athletics and Houston Astros last season. He owned a 2.38 ERA, 3.16 FIP, 1.09 WHIP and averaged 8.3 strikeouts per nine innings with Oakland.
His ERA, FIP and WHIP increased to 4.17, 5.19 and 1.39, respectively, in 13 starts for the Astros. Moreover, Kazmir’s strikeout per nine innings dropped to 6.6 with Houston. Jharel Cotton, Mike Bolsinger, Jacob Rhame, Pedro Baez and Louis Coleman are expected to follow Kazmir on Friday.
Texas counters by sending Chi Chi Gonzalez to the hill. Last spring, the young right-hander was 1-0 with a 2.89 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in five games (two starts). In those outings, Gonzalez collected 23 strikeouts to seven walks in 18.2 innings pitched.
Gonzalez made his Major-League debut last season on May 30 in the first of 14 appearances, 10 of which were starts. He faced the Dodgers last June, allowing just two runs on five hits in 8.2 innings pitched.
Gonzalez finished the season 4-6 with a 3.90 ERA, 4.97 FIP and 1.21 WHIP. He’ll face a lineup with Carl Crawford batting leadoff, followed by Joc Pederson.
Although Adrian Gonzalez was expected to make his Spring Training debut on Friday, he is being given one extra day off. Gonzalez missed a workout last week due to irritating a bulging disk in his neck, which is a reoccurring issue.
Scott Van Slyke is again playing first base. Along with Crawford and Pederson, A.J. Ellis and Chase Utley are slated for their first Cactus League action of 2016. Kazmir faces a Rangers lineup that starts three left-handed batters.
However, it also features Justin Ruggiano, who hit well off lefties during his time with the Dodgers last season. Ruggiano signed with the Rangers after electing free agency instead of accepting an outright assignment to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Carl Crawford
CF: Joc Pederson
2B: Chase Utley
1B: Scott Van Slyke
SS: Kiké Hernandez
C: A.J. Ellis
RF: Trayce Thompson
DH: Alex Guerrero
3B: Brandon Hicks
Rangers lineup:
CF: Delino DeShields
RF: Shin-Soo Choo
1B: Prince Fielder
3B: Adrian Beltre
LF: Ian Desmond
DH: Justin Ruggiano
2B: Rougned Odor
SS: Elvis Andrus
C: Michael McKenry
