One day after saying he was "definitely" not going on the disabled list, Matt Kemp on Monday did just that, as the Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder was shelved with a left hamstring strain. Kemp aggravated the injury on Sunday against the Rockies, and MRI results Monday confirmed the strain.
"It's a mild strain, but the doctor said if you do it again, it can go from a grade one to a grade two, and then you're talking four weeks," said manager Don Mattingly after the game. "Now he has a chance to get healthy, and make sure he doesn't have any long-term effects from this thing."
Kemp had his streak of 399 consecutive games played snapped on Monday, ending the longest active streak in MLB. Mattingly said he didn't expect Kemp to be on the disabled list for longer than 15 days, and that it took some convincing for his center fielder.
"We found out Matt wasn't going to give us the whole truth regarding his hamstring, so we were in a sense protecting him from himself," Mattingly said.
Kemp said he was disappointed but that he understood the decision.
"I just need to take some time, and hopefully I can get back to running fast doing the same thing I've been doing this year," Kemp said. "I want to be out there and help my team win but we're playing good. They got a win without me tonight."
To take Kemp's place on the roster, the Dodgers recalled outfielder Jerry Sands from Triple A Albuquerque.
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