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Kazmir (arm) was released by the Braves on Saturday.
Impact
How quickly things can change in Major League Baseball. As of this morning, Kazmir was seen as the likely fifth starter for the Braves to begin 2018, but he left Saturday's game with arm fatigue and it turns out that issue will end his bid for a starting job along with his tenure with Atlanta. This effectively cements Anibal Sanchez into the rotation, while Kazmir's future as a major leaguer appears murky.
Kazmir left Saturday's game with arm fatigue, David O'Brien of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Impact
The Braves' medical staff will give Kazmir a long look over before the team decides on a course of action. This comes at a poor time for Kazmir, as he seemed in line to open the year in Atlanta's rotation with Luiz Gohara (ankle) sidelined. Now it seems likely that Anibal Sanchez will get the nod the first time the Braves need a fifth starter. Kazmir missed all of last season with a hip injury.
Kazmir is expected to make the big-league club as a long reliever and then take the ball when the Braves first use a fifth starter either April 8 or April 10, David O'Brien of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Impact
The Braves could use a fifth starter April 8 if they want to give Julio Teheran an extra day of rest between his second and third starts while keeping the rest of the rotation in order. They could also hold off until April 10 if they really want to minimize Kazmir's usage in that role. Luiz Gohara (groin) is expected to join the rotation in early May, at which point Kazmir would likely move to a full-time long-relief role. The 34-year-old southpaw hasn't impressed in spring training, sitting at 86-88 mph with his fastball while logging a 4.66 ERA and .303 batting average against in four starts. The Braves owe him $16 million, so they will give him every opportunity to prove himself useful.
Kazmir (jaw) will follow Julio Teheran on the mound in Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Impact
Kazmir was scratched from his scheduled start Sunday with a jaw contusion. The injury is apparently not a serious one as he is already back on the hill. The veteran lefty is battling Anibal Sanchez, Matt Wisler, Lucas Sims, and Aaron Blair for the final spot in the Braves' rotation.
Kazmir was scratched from his scheduled Grapefruit League start Sunday against the Astros due to a left jaw contusion.
Impact
Anibal Sanchez will take the hill in Kazmir's stead. The injury doesn't sound like a serious one for Kazmir, but it's poor timing nonetheless for a pitcher who will need to make the most of his subsequent opportunities this spring to secure a spot in the Opening Day rotation. Kazmir is battling Sanchez, Matt Wisler, Lucas Sims and Aaron Blair for the lone opening in the rotation after Sean Newcomb officially sewed up a spot Saturday.
Kazmir gave up four runs (three earned) on four hits and two walks over 3.2 innings while striking out one in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays.
Impact
The veteran lefty is in the running to fill the rotation hole created by Luiz Gohara's ankle injury, but at some point Kazmir will need to produce in order to win the job. His 4:6 K:BB through 9.2 spring innings won't get it done. He should be in line for another couple of starts in camp before Opening Day, but if he can't get some outs, someone like Matt Wisler or Max Fried could deny Kazmir a spot on the 25-man roster entirely.
Kazmir may be the Braves' top option to fill the fifth starter role until Luiz Gohara (ankle) is back on the mound, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Impact
The journeyman lefty is battling Matt Wisler for the job, but Wisler's poor outing against the Tigers on Sunday may have pushed Kazmir into the lead. Kazmir's had his own struggles this spring, though, posting a 3:4 K:BB through his first six innings and having trouble finding the usual velocity on his fastball, and even if he does break camp in the rotation it will be purely a short-term assignment. Consider the 34-year-old nothing more than an endgame lottery ticket in NL-only formats.
Kazmir's fastball velocity was reportedly 85-87 mph in his first spring start, Grant McAuley of 929 The Game reports.
Impact
The only thing to watch with Kazmir this spring is his fastball velocity. It was in the mid-80s in 2017 after being up around 91 mph in 2016. If he can't throw harder, his career as a big-league starter is probably over. If he can gradually throw harder in his next couple spring starts, he could break camp in the big-league rotation.
Kazmir allowed two hits and a walk over two scoreless innings while striking out one in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees.
Impact
The veteran lefty is looking to re-start his career after throwing only 12 minor-league innings last year, and while Kazmir doesn't appear to have a clear path to a rotation job in Atlanta, a big spring could buy the organization some time if it feels one of its crop of top pitching prospects needs a little more development. He'll need to stay healthy over the next few weeks to even have a chance at a spot on the Braves' 25-man roster, though.
Braves manager Brian Snitker said Kazmir (hip) threw a side session Friday and will be on a normal throwing program during spring training, David O'Brien of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. "Because [Kazmir] didn't pitch [in 2017] he'll probably be one of the latter ones that we see in the [Grapefruit League] games. But he's throwing in a normal program right now."
Impact
Shipped to the Braves earlier this offseason in a salary dump, Kazmir is a member of his fourth organization in three years since signing a three-year, $48 million contract in December 2015. Though the 34-year-old was a decent innings eater for the Dodgers in his last full season in 2016, supplying a 4.56 ERA and 1.36 WHIP while striking out 134 batters over 136.1 frames, the Braves aren't viewing the veteran lefty as anything more as a deep insurance option for the rotation with Julio Teheran, Brandon McCarthy and Mike Foltynewicz guaranteed starting roles and a cadre of young pitchers competing to fill the final two spots. On a more positive note, it appears the nagging hip injury that limited Kazmir to just four minor-league rehab games last season is no longer much of a concern. If Kazmir isn't traded or released before the start of the season, look for him to work in long relief for Atlanta.