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Los Angeles Dodgers Starter Scott Kazmir Undergoes Bone Scan, Return Delayed

By Xavier Alatorre

Aug 17, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Scott Kazmir (29) throws a pitch during the fourth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 17, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Scott Kazmir (29) throws a pitch during the fourth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Los Angeles Dodgers’ 32-year-old starter’s recent trip to the disabled list has been exacerbated by lingering discomfort. Scott Kazmir‘s most recent start with Triple-A Oklahoma City was cut short and followed up with a bone scan of his midsection.

Scott Kazmir underwent a bone scan of his thoracic region Friday, according to Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register. The results of the tests are still unknown, though the left-hander was already battling neck inflammation prior to his rehab start in Oklahoma City. In his start, he only threw 33 pitches before being pulled from the mound.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stated that Kazmir’s return will follow a shutdown period of a few weeks, per Plunkett’s report. There are twenty-two games left in the Dodgers season, so it is unlikely Kazmir returns before the beginning of the postseason. Any kind of return in 2016 is just as uncertain.

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Scott Kazmir has been a lackluster mid-rotation starter for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is 10-6, with a 4.59 ERA. Despite his woes on the mound, his signing has proven to be a low-risk option for the Dodgers. His annual average salary is $16 million. Given his premature shutdown and sub-par performance, Kazmir is less likely to exercise his opt-out clause and instead remain with the Dodgers.

The Dodgers rotation has been decimated by injuries. Though Clayton Kershaw was activated from the DL on Friday, he had not pitched in the big leagues in two months and showed some rust in his first start on Friday. Brandon McCarthy remains sidelined, along with Brett Anderson, Hyun-Jin Ryu, and Alex Wood. Though the team has had to rely on a patchwork of rookies to bolster the rotation, the young hurlers have pitched impressively.

Julio Urias has continually improved in each successive start and Jose De Leon earned his first win in his MLB debut. Kenta Maeda has been a solid mid-rotation starter, and is 14-8 and is posting a 3.29 ERA. Likewise, Brock Stewart and Ross Stripling have performed exceptionally well, considering their rookie status. De Leon, Stripling, Stewart, and Maeda earned consecutive wins in the Dodgers last four games, a rare feat for rookie pitchers.

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The Dodgers are the favorites to clinch the NL West, holding a four game lead over the Giants entering play on Saturday. They are likely bound for the postseason. However, Julio Urias is on an innings limit, as is Ross Stripling. It is still unknown if De Leon will make the postseason roster, even if his remaining starts are wildly successful.

Regardless, the rotation will still be hampered by injuries. That means Clayton Kershaw may be the only healthy starter from Los Angeles’ pitching corps that has postseason experience. For the Dodgers, success in October may be fleeting.

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