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LOS ANGELES---- Scott Kazmir has pitched very well in July in his career, and especially in the last three seasons. Overall, Kazmir has a 3.31 ERA, a 1.182 WHP, and a 2.5/1 strikeout to walk ratio in 42 career starts in July.
In 2013, Kazmir pitched 36 innings with a 2.75 ERA, a 1.028 WHIP, and was 2-0. In 2014, he was 3-0 in 26 innings, with a 1.38 ERA and last season, Kazmir was 2-0 in 34 innings, with a 0.26 ERA, 0.618 WHIP and 4/1 strikeout to walk ratio.
Chase Utley is getting the day off, Utley will play on Sunday.
"This gives Howie [Kendrick] an opportunity to get at second base and as we get up closer to break just an extra day for Chase will be good for him," manager Dave Roberts said.
Injury updates
Hyun-jin Ryu made his longest rehab start on Friday night at Rancho Cucamonga. "Ryu came out of it okay, he ended up touching 90, averaged 86, something like that," Roberts said, "We still have not decided if it is going to be another rehab start for him or not, that something that today we have to talk through."
Brandon McCarthy will not have any set limitations in his first start back from Tommy John surgery, and he was the one who said let's go. "I said listen, if you guys are fine with it being time, I'm ready to go," he said, "They got back to me on the next day and said you are going to start Sunday."
Clayton Kershaw spoke to the media before the game and said he will meet with team doctors on Saturday night.
"I have a [rehab] plan, but I think, I have not seen Dr. Watkins for a followup," Kershaw said, "I'll see him probably around game time tonight and just kind of talk progress, program and go from there.
"Hopefully have a decent plan, program going forward, at least to start doing some type of rehab exercises, just kind of start from there."
Kershaw didn't think his experience in 2014 after Australia was going to help him deal with the time off the field.
"I'm going to very impatient and try and pitch tomorrow," Kershaw said, "the DL sucks, there's no getting around it.
"It is awful, it is the worst coming to field every day. You just feel like, whether you do or not, you feel like you kind of let the team down, not pitching. That is just the way it is and you have to get through it."