It’s not certain that Braves left fielder Matt Kemp will play in the field again this season, though he did pinch-hit in the ninth inning Wednesday, grounding out to end a 7-3 loss to the Nationals.
That was the first game action of any kind for the veteran since straining his left hamstring Friday, after having two stints on the disabled list this season for right-hamstring injuries and also missing some earlier games for left-hamstring tightness.
“Matt’s still getting worked on, again he’s day-to-day,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said before batting practice Wednesday.
Asked if he thought Kemp would play again this season, Snitker replied, “I’m not ruling it out yet. I mean, we’ll just see. For right now … you just don’t want him to blow something or whatever right now and have more of a setback. I just trust the medical team and let them do their thing, and they’ll let me.”
He used him to pinch-hit Wednesday and said afterward that Kemp would likely be limited to that role, at least for the time being. The Braves have 12 games left in the next 11 days including a Monday doubleheader at New York.
Kemp, who’ll turn 33 on Saturday, started the season as one of baseball’s hottest hitters, totaling six homers, six multi-hit games and 15 RBIs in his first 12 games and batting .351 with 13 doubles, eight homers, 25 RBIs and a 1.022 OPS in 31 games through May 21.
But in 80 games since, he hit .248 with 22 extra-base hits, 38 RBIs, a .687 OPS and 19 double plays grounded into before Wednesday. He was tied for the major league lead with 24 double plays grounded into, despite playing only 111 of the Braves’ 149 games before Wednesday.
The former National League MVP runner-up is signed for two more seasons, with the Braves on the hook for $36 million of the $43 million he’s owed in that span. They’ll try to trade him this winter, but it seems doubtful the Braves could get any team to take on any significant portion of the money he’s owed.
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