"The Angels don't need Scott Kazmir to lead the league in strikeouts, like he did when he whiffed 239 batters for Tampa Bay in 2007. They don't need him to win 20 games or compile a sub-3.50 earned-run average.

As the fifth starter on a team with four very good ones — Jered Weaver, Dan Haren, Ervin Santana and Joel Pineiro — Kazmir needs to pitch well enough to give the Angels a chance to win and long enough to prevent the bullpen from being overworked every fifth game.

The left-hander didn't go deep into Tuesday night's 5-1 exhibition victory by the Angels over the Dodgers in Angel Stadium, throwing only 49 pitches in 41/3 innings, though that was by design.

But it was the best and most efficient outing of the spring for Kazmir, who gave up one run and three hits, including Rod Barajas' home run in the third, walked one and struck out none.

It couldn't have come at a better time. Kazmir, who was 9-15 with a 5.94 ERA last season, was 0-2 with a 7.79 ERA in five spring starts, giving up 23 hits, walking 12 and striking out 10 in 171/3 innings.

Speculation was already mounting that if Kazmir's struggles continued in April, the Angels would have little choice but to release him and swallow the $14.5 million left on his contract.

Kazmir may have muted such talk, at least for this week.

"I felt good, it was a good tuneup," Kazmir said. "I'm just trying to stay focused, trying to get better every time out there."

Kazmir's fastball topped out at 89 mph, still down from his 93-mph range of a few years ago, but he changed speeds and located well and induced two double-play grounders."