Scott Kazmir remains a work in progress for Dodgers

PHOENIX — The search for answers continued for Scott Kazmir on Sunday, still struggling with hip problems in a start against the Rangers, all but ending his already slim chances of making the Dodgers opening day roster.

He threw 66 pitches in his three innings, with as many balls as strikes. Among his 18 batters faced, Kazmir walked five, hit two others, and allowed a home run. He allowed three runs.

Manager Dave Roberts said it was unlikely Kazmir would pitch in the Freeway Series, though that hasn’t been finalized yet.

“Where we’re at right now, we’ve got to have guys that have a legitimate chance to get major league hitters out consistently,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Right now, Scott’s not there.”

“It’s almost like you want to get back to the point where you’re just executing pitch instead of having a checklist of what stuff that you need to know to get your body in a good position to throw,” Kazmir said. “And It all stems from the hip, being able to load on that hip and you know, get that fire that hip to get that direction.”

It was the kind of outing more akin to the start of spring training then one from anyone close to being major league ready.

“There are so many things that we're trying to clean up that you get to a certain point in your delivery, and then you almost have to kind of slow things down and have things kind of catch up and that’s just kind of whats going on right now," Kazmir said.

Kazmir reached 87 mph on two pitches Sunday, per MLB Gameday, topping out at 87.4.

“We’re going to have a discussion over the next day or two to see what’s best for him and what’s best for us,” Roberts said. “You feel for a guy like that, because it’s not from a lack of effort or preparation. He’s doing what he can, but it’s just not coming out.”

But Kazmir feels he is getting closer, or at least making progress.

“Its tough cause I feel like I’m almost there,” he said. “I made strides, and you can kind of make one pitch and, ‘A ha there it is,’ and it just jumps out of your hands. I’m just going to keep at it and we’ll talk tomorrow and see where it goes.”