WASHINGTON – Braves slugger Matt Kemp left Wednesday’s game against the Nationals with left hamstring tightness.
He grabbed his leg after being tagged out when Kemp attempted to advance from first to third base on an errant pickoff throw to first by Nationals catcher Jose Lobaton in the third inning of the series finale at Nationals Park. The Braves routed the Nationals, 13-2, to clinch the series.
The veteran left fielder had a stint on the 10-day disabled list in April for a right hamstring strain, and Kemp said his exit Wednesday was about not pushing it and having a repeat of that DL-type of injury.
“Just being cautious,” he said. “Don’t want to go down that same path again.”
Manager Brian Snitker said it’s possible that Kemp could return to the lineup for Friday’s series opener against the Marlins after having a day to rest Thursday when the Braves are off.
Kemp has had a few DL stints for hamstring issues in the past and said this one didn’t feel like it would require a DL stint.
“No, I don’t think so,” he said. “Tomorrow we’ll see how it feels and go from there. Good thing we have a day off.”
With Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman on the DL recovering from a fractured wrist, Kemp is considered the leading candidate to represent the Braves in the All-Star game next month. He entered Wednesday’s game ranked fourth in the National League in batting average (.326) and had 30 extra-base hits including 11 home runs and 32 RBIs in 54 games. His .558 slugging percentage ranked 15th in the league before Wednesday.
Kemp struck out in the first inning and singled in the third inning of Wednesday’s 13-2 Braves series-clinching win at Nationals Park.
