The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Hamstring sidelines Kemp again
Rodriguez steps up while ailing outfielder heals.
— The last PHILADELPHIA time Braves left fielder Matt Kemp went on the 10-day disabled list because of a right hamstring injury he played just one rehabilitation game
and returned to the lineup as soon as he was eligible. The next time Kemp had hamstring issues he missed one game, started the next five, and then missed two more games before trying to manage the injury while playing.
Kemp’s latest hamstring i njury could mean an extended time out of the lineup.
The Braves placed Kemp on the 10-day DL on Saturday
with what the team said is a right hamstring strain, the day after the injury forced
him to leave a game against the Phillies.
Braves manager Brian Snitker said Kemp’s April DL stint mostly was for precautionary reasons, but that Kemp “jerked it worse” during Friday’s game.
Kemp had multiple DL stints because of injuries to both hamstrings while playing for the Dodgers during the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
“He’s had a history of it even when he was younger,” Snitker said. “It’s one of those things when they are out there running around on hard ground with cleats. It’s probably better now to wait. It’s going to take a while for it to get back well.”
Kemp, 32, suffered the injury while trying to turn a hit off the wall into a double.
After the game he said the hamstring clenched as he rounded first base.
Kemp appeared briefly in the clubhouse Saturday when it was open to report- ers, but did not comment when approached.
The Braves placed Kemp on the 10-day disabled list in April because of a right hamstring strain.
Kemp sat out a game June 16 because of soreness in his left hamstring, pinch hit
during a game June 17 and then started the next five before sitting out two more games.
In 33 games since June 17 Kemp hit .221 with a .286 on-base percentage and .328 slugging percentage.
Sean Rodriguez was in the lineup at left field for Satur- day’s game. Rodriguez (who bats right) and Danny San- tana (switch hitter) figure to get most of the starts in left with Kemp out, with Lane Adams also available.
“We are covered,” Snitker said. “You obviously hate to lose your clean-up hitter, but we have guys that can fill in.”
The Braves activated Rodriguez, 32, from the disabled list July 17. He was injured along with his wife and two of their children during a Jan. 28 vehicle crash near their Miami home.
“My body feels good,” Rodriguez said Saturday. “I said early on, technically — and I say technically lightly — I won’t feel 100 percent until probably next year. That was something we knew com- ing into it. It feels as good as needs to.
“I said to (the team) I feel I can still contribute where I’m at, and that’s why I wanted to come back and try to give us a little more push and see if we can make something of this season.”
“It’s a good opportunity for Sean to get back in there,” Snitker said. “I kind of feel like he’s getting his timing back. He’s been having some really good at-bats so it’s good to give him an opportunity.”
Said Rodriguez: “We will see how they want to match things up. If Matt going down means getting to play (regularly) then, definitely, let’s do it.”
Entering Saturday, Rodriguez was hitting .190 (4 for 29) with a .414 on-base percentage (seven walks) in 10 games.
He said his timing at the plate has improved with more at-bats.
“That’s the grind every day is trying to find that swing and that feeling and repeat it,” he said.
Reliever Motte in Rome for rehab: Veteran relief pitcher Jason Motte was scheduled to pitch one inning for Single-A Rome on Saturday as part of his rehabilitation assignment, Snitker said.
The Braves placed Motte on the 10-day disabled list July 14 because of a back strain. He suffered the injury while warming up in the bullpen during the final game before the All-Star break and was still feeling the effects of the injury after the break.
Motte, 35, has a 3.76 ERA in 31 appearances (26⅓ innings) this season with 19 strikeouts and nine walks.
The Braves signed Motte to a free-agent contract April 11, following his release by the Rockies.