The Los Angeles Dodgers are currently searching for their fourth and fifth starters to begin the season, as the only locks to be in the rotation are Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill and Kenta Maeda. There’s no shortage of competition beyond the trio.
Scott Kazmir and Brandon McCarthy figure to have have every opportunity to fill out the rotation, as they do not have Minor League options and have proven to be capable starters throughout their career.
Kazmir, who started 26 games for the Dodgers last season but missed the last six weeks with thoracic spinal inflammation, returned to the mound Wednesday night in what was his first start of the spring.
The 33-year-old had a perfect, nine-pitch first inning, but struggled a bit with his control in the second and was not able to escape the inning. Overall he threw 1.2 innings, giving up a hit and a walk while also hitting a batter, which led to two runs (one earned).
Kazmir explained what began to go wrong and why he’s optimistic despite the shaky finish, via Doug Padilla of ESPN:
“I had a long [pregame] bullpen, I guess you could say. It was on point, I don’t think I missed a spot. As the night was going on, I kind of got lazy with the stuff I was working on. I for sure was not able to go max-effort the entire night. That first inning I was able to sync some stuff up. That’s really all it is for me. It’s more or less my hands, to be able to get nice and strong on my frontside to get through the pitch. There would be times where I would lose my frontside right from the get-go. That’s where you get a couple pulls or me just kind of guiding (pitches). But, it’s getting better and better. I feel like you almost want to take a breather and go back out there to keep working on it. I feel like that’s what has to happen for me to get that feel and be able to do it consistently. There’s a lot of positive things I could take out of today. Cutter was good, and that’s something we’re going to work on a lot.”
Kazmir’s mechanics became compromised last spring as he attempted to pitch through injury. Much like Wednesday, his starts typically were filled with their share of peaks and valleys. The 33-year-old has spent the spring attempting to improve his delivery, and presumably will receive additional Cactus League starts.
Last November, Kazmir opted in to the remaining two years and $32 million on his contract with the Dodgers. He 10-6 with a 4.56 ERA, 4.48 FIP and 1.36 WHIP in 26 starts.
