Dodgers Team News

Dodgers News: Don Mattingly Updates Matt Kemp And Scott Van Slyke

After their 3-1 victory over the San Diego Padres yesterday afternoon, Dodgers management turned their attention to the Albuquerque Isotopes game later that night.

Outfielders Matt Kemp and Scott Van Slyke are both rehabbing different injuries, but their return dates are both in the air. Kemp is battling a strained groin while Van Slyke has been slowed by a neck injury as the Dodgers have been ravaged by injuries the entire season.



Speaking to manager Don Mattingly yesterday, Ken Gurnick of Dodgers.com asked if Van Slyke be on the active roster when healthy:

“We talk about Adrian [Gonzalez] playing every day, it wouldn’t hurt for him to have a day [off at first base],” said Mattingly. “Or when we go with an all right-handed lineup, we can have Van Slyke, [Yasiel] Puig and Matt, three power guys. There’s a benefit to it.

In limited playing time, Van Slyke hit .221 with six home runs and 11 RBIs as most of his hits went for of the extra-base variety. However, he’s still raw in his approach to the plate, but is a capable option when the Dodgers face left handed pitching.

Kemp went 0-5 in his first rehab game with four strikeouts, but Mattingly admitted that he did look good running in the outfield before and during the game.

However, this afternoon, Mattingly spoke to Bill Plunkett of the OC Register about Kemp’s condition:

While it isn’t known whether or not Kemp will be activated tomorrow, he won’t travel with the team to Memphis and barring a major setback, should be in the lineup tomorrow night.

Hopefully getting Kemp and Van Slyke will give the Dodgers offense the needed push it needs in order to get back into the playoff chase.

 

Ross Gasmer

Ross Gasmer is a Social Media Producer for @TheHerd and was a contributing writer and editor for Dodger Nation. Follow him on Twitter @Ross_Gasmer12

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button