Kazmir leaves start with hip injury, will undergo MRI

Presumably not the sight the Los Angeles Dodgers wanted to see before the regular season.

Left-hander Scott Kazmir was removed from his Cactus League start after only 14 pitches on Monday against the Colorado Rockies with a hip injury, according to Alanna Rizzo of SportsNet LA. He managed to get through the first inning allowing a hit while striking out one batter, but was visited by trainers on the mound after throwing one pitch in the second inning.

The veteran starter will undergo a precautionary MRI to help determine the severity of the injury.

Kazmir, who is in the second year of a three-year, $48-million deal he signed before the 2016 season, struggled in his first go with the club as the 33-year-old missed a month of time last year with neck inflammation. When healthy, the left-hander combined for his worst statistical season since 2010, pitching to a 4.56 ERA, a 1.35 WHIP and 3.4 walks per nine innings.

Any extended absence would be a tough blow to the Dodgers rotation. On the bright side, Hyun-Jin Ryu is expected to make his Cactus League debut on Friday. The 29-year-old has made only one start since 2014 recovering from back, shoulder and elbow injuries.