Getty Images Matt Kemp‘s consecutive games streak ended at 399 on Monday night, and worse news followed after the game, as the 2011 NL MVP runner-up was placed on the disabled list with a strained right hamstring.
It’s just Kemp’s second career trip to the DL. The first came due to a shoulder injury in April 2007.
Kemp’s absence will make Tony Gwynn Jr. the Dodgers’ primary center fielder for a couple of weeks, though manager Don Mattingly indicated that Andre Ethier would likely make a couple of starts there. Ethier would probably play center against left-handers, allowing Scott Van Slyke to get some starts over Gwynn.
Jerry Sands is the replacement for Kemp on the roster. He was off to a slow start at Triple-A Albuquerque before suddenly going 6-for-7 with three homers and two walks the last two days. He’s primarily a left fielder, but the Dodgers could use him at first base over James Loney versus southpaws.
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- spudatx - May 15, 2012 at 8:46 AM
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I pity the messenger who told Kemp he was going on the DL.
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- mybrunoblog - May 15, 2012 at 9:16 AM
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Sucks that his streak had to end. Whenever a consecutive games streak ends I always think of Gehrig and Ripken and appreciate what those guys did even more. To play 12 years or 16 years without missing a game is just insane when you think about it.
