Marlins @ Dodgers April 27, 2016: Kazmir vs. Nicolino

Marlins
Dodgers
7:10 p.m. PT
Los Angeles
2B
Gordon
LF
Hernandez
3B
Prado
RF
Puig
LF
Yelich
1B
Gonzalez
RF
Stanton
3B
Turner
CF
Ozuna
SS
Seager
C
Realmuto
2B
Kendrick
1B
Johnson
C
Ellis
SS
Hechavarria
CF
Thompson
P
Nicolino (L)
P
Kazmir (L)

After dropping the first two games of the four-game series, the Dodgers look to Scott Kazmir to help them avoid their first three-game losing streak of the season. Kazmir’s also looking to get himself right, as he’s allowed at least four runs in his last three games. His ERA on the season is 6.63 (6.05 FIP), and his WHIP is 1.42.

Giancarlo Stanton played a big role in both of those losses, homering off of both Ross Stripling and Clayton Kershaw. It seems Stanton likes hitting at Dodger Stadium — in 17 games there, he’s hit eight home runs, and his OPS is 1.112.

Will Kazmir be able to keep Stanton from doing more damage tonight?

I’m not sure I’m optimistic, but stay tuned to find out anyway.

Meanwhile, left-hander Justin Nicolino will be making his first start of the season for the Marlins. The 25-year-old was recalled today after making four starts for Triple-A New Orleans. Nicolino started 12 games for the Marlins last season, and, in 74 IP, posted an ERA of 4.01 (4.85 FIP) and a WHIP of 1.24. He struggled with his strikeout-to-walk ratio, striking out 23 batters while walking 20. He’ll face a lineup of mostly right-handed batters, save for Adrian Gonzalez and the birthday boy/recent Twitter joiner, Corey Seager (and Kazmir).

In other Dodger news, Yimi Garcia can’t pick up a baseball, which doesn’t exactly sound promising for him:

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About Sarah Wexler

Sarah Wexler is a native Angeleno and longtime Dodger fan. She began blogging about baseball in 2012, and is now a reporter/producer for MLB.com. She earned her master's degree in Sports Management from Cal State Long Beach. She graduated from New York University in 2014 with a bachelor's in History and a minor in American Studies. She's an avid Bruce Springsteen fan, which is a big boost to her baseball writer cred.