Dodgers fight that bad feeling after Matt Kemp injures hamstring

The Dodgers held their breath Wednesday night. They weren’t sure what else to do.

All they knew for certain was, Matt Kemp injured his right hamstring. Kemp and hamstring equaled nothing but bad news last year.

And although this is the other leg, and they won’t know the severity of his injury until after an MRI scheduled for Thursday, they knew it was bad news. They just weren’t certain how bad.

Dodgers vice president of medical services, Stan Conte, told Mattingly it was a mild strain. Still…

“I guess I shouldn’t say it, but anytime you hear the dreaded hamstring word, usually it lasts a little bit,� Mattingly said. “But Stan was saying it was mild. Hopefully Matt caught himself before he got it good.�

That was hopefully the good news for the Dodgers. Kemp injured the hamstring in the seventh inning Wednesday night chasing a Mike Trout double into the right-field cap.

Having twice gone on the disabled list last year with a pulled hamstring -- the second time for six weeks -- Kemp decided to take the prudent approach.

“Probably about two years ago I would have stayed in the game,� Kemp said. “But Dre [Andre Ethier] kinda walked over to me and told me to be safe, reminded me of that. I’d rather maybe miss a couple days or whatever, than miss a month like I did last year.�

Kemp didn’t think the injury was as severe as last year, though like everyone else, was uncertain.

“I don’t know if it’s bad as last year,� he said. “But when you feel it grabbing, things like that, you have to take it easy and make sure you’re careful with it because it can get worse.�

Kemp was already struggling this season coming off major shoulder surgery. He is hitting .251 with just two home runs. He’s been particularly slumping (1 for 17 with 10 strikeouts) and frustrated of late.

“I’m hoping that it’s a few days where it doesn’t derail him,� Mattingly said. “He’s working to get himself back and be a part of it. I really don’t want him to get any more frustrated than he is.�