LOS ANGELES — Finally back to full strength after two months on the disabled list with a strained hamstring, Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp is starting to heat up and return to his early-season form.
Kemp’s two-run homer Saturday night extended his hitting streak to seven games, and he is hitting .483 (14-for-29) in that span with four doubles, two home runs and seven RBIs. Kemp had gone 6-for-11 with a home run against Sunday’s Cubs pitcher, Justin Germano, giving him a good chance to extend that streak to eight games.
Since the All-Star break, the center fielder is batting .345 with four homers and 13 RBIs to pace the Dodgers’ offense.
With Shane Victorino and Hanley Ramirez added to the lineup, Kemp and his teammates are getting to see a lot more hittable pitches.
“You are wanting that guy to work on the other side and not give him spots in the lineup where he can breeze through where he only has to concentrate certain times,” manager Don Mattingly said. “We want him to have to concentrate and make him make good pitches all throughout the lineup.
“Guys are going to make ‘X’ amount of mistakes. The more you force him to make better pitches, the better chance you are going to get he’s going to make mistakes.”
Groin injury not likely to slow De La Rosa’s rehab
LOS ANGELES — Dodgers right-hander Rubby De La Rosa is day to day after injuring his groin making a rehab start Saturday night with Class A Rancho Cucamonga.
Manager Don Mattingly said it is probably nothing major and pointed out that getting De La Rosa back this season is going to be an added bonus anyways with the pitcher only a year removed from Tommy John surgery.
“The good news is it’s not his elbow,” said Mattingly, who added it will not set his rehab back.
De La Rosa said his groin hurt on a couple pitches, but no MRI will be needed. Saturday night was his second rehab start and he struck out four in two hitless and scoreless innings.
The 23-year-old righty has been out all season after undergoing surgery, and he is being used as a starter to build up arm strength. However, Mattingly expects to use him as a reliever in September if he continues to progress and returns from the disabled list.
“I’m really excited,” said De La Rosa, who added his velocity is where he wants it. “I can’t wait.”
Worth noting
• Adam Kennedy is expected to be ready within a day or two of Thursday’s eligible return from the disabled list. The infielder, who has been dealing with a right groin strain, has gone 4-for-12 with a triple, RBI and four runs in four games with Class A Rancho Cucamonga. With Kennedy’s return, Juan Uribe figures to be the odd man out with the veteran having made only five starts since the All-Star break.
• Yasiel Puig hit a pair of home runs Saturday night in his fourth professional game with the Arizona League Dodgers. After going 0-for-4 in his debut, the Cuban outfielder has gone 5-for-12 with two homers, two triples, four runs and five RBIs.
Alex Angert is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
