Dodgers' Kazmir unfazed by lackluster velocity

Though his fastball didn't touch 85 miles per hour, Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Scott Kazmir was encouraged by his performance Thursday in a five-inning simulated game against minor-league hitters.

"I feel close, really close," Kazmir told reporters, according to ESPN. "I was able to keep my tempo, keep my balance, and use this hip to get through. It's a lot of things that we have to focus on. It's just a matter of putting that all together.

"I don't even want to know (about the velocity). I know it's not there yet."

Beset by hip issues since last season, when his fastball averaged 92.01 mph, Kazmir - who underwent an MRI on March 8 that came back clean - sat 82-84 mph with his heater Thursday, according to manager Dave Roberts, who was a bit more concerned about the 33-year-old's lackluster velocity.

"We've still got to see some improvement in the velocity at some point in time," Roberts said. "And I think he'll say the same thing. I don't know if there's a certain number of miles per hour that he needs to pitch at. I think he was 82-84 today. ... That's not the number, and he'll be the first to tell you that."

Kazmir, who hasn't pitched in a Cactus League game since March 6, made only 26 starts last season - his fewest since reviving his career in 2013 - due to various injuries, managing a 4.56 ERA (85 ERA+) with a 1.36 WHIP amid neck inflammation and back issues.