Dodgers @ Rays May 3, 2016: Scott Kazmir returns to Tampa

Scott Kazmir returns to Tampa Bay for the first time since last May in an attempt to keep the Dodgers’ winning “streak” alive.

Dodgers
Rays
4:10 p.m. PT
Tampa Bay
DH
Hernandez
2B
Forsythe
RF
Puig
DH
Guyer
1B
Gonzalez
3B
Longoria
3B
Turner
1B
Pearce
2B
Kendrick
RF
Souza, Jr.
LF
Thompson
LF
Jennings
C
Ellis
SS
Beckham
CF
Pederson
CF
Kiermaier
SS
Culberson
C
Casali
P
Kazmir (L)
P
Moore (L)

He was decent his last time out (6 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 6 K), and the Rays are far from an offensive juggernaut. Here’s hoping he can build on his return to Tampa Bay.

He’s taking on Matt Moore, who is pitching in his first full season since Tommy John surgery. With a lefty on the hill, one would assume platoon player Joc Pederson would be out of the lineup. But that isn’t the case. He’s starting in center field and batting eighth. Other platoon player Yasmani Grandal is out of the lineup, though. Fun.

Howie Kendrick and his -15 wRC+ are in the fifth spot in the lineup. He’s been pretty bad this season, but he’s definitely not this poor a hitter. Perhaps an American League road trip will help snap him out of his funk.

Some notes on how Dave Roberts plans to use his players in the next five games (at Tampa Bay and Toronto).

And news on the minor-league front.

Here’s hoping a month off is all Jose De Leon will need this season.

And finally…

Dale Thayer‘s opt-out comes on the heels of Sean Burnett opting out of his deal and signing with the Braves. There wasn’t much chance either of them were going to help the big-league club much (had slim hopes for Burnett), so they’re onto other ventures.

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About Dustin Nosler

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Dustin Nosler began writing about the Dodgers in July 2009 at his blog, Feelin' Kinda Blue. He co-hosted a weekly podcast with Jared Massey called Dugout Blues. He was a contributor/editor at The Hardball Times and True Blue LA. He graduated from California State University, Sacramento, with his bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in digital media. While at CSUS, he worked for the student-run newspaper The State Hornet for three years, culminating with a 1-year term as editor-in-chief. He resides in Stockton, Calif.