Now that the Los Angeles Dodgers know they will be going to Atlanta to start their playoff journey, they have just received word that an important member of their team will not be embarking on that journey with them.
Matt Kemp has a significant amount of swelling in his ankle that will require him to miss at least the next month while it heals.
#Dodgers OF @TheRealMattKemp has swelling in a weight-bearing bone in his ankle and will miss the #postseason.
— MLB (@MLB) September 30, 2013
Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register has also added that Kemp will have shoulder surgery that would keep him out for 6 weeks, although it is presumed that he was planning on doing that during the offseason and that injury alone was not enough to keep him out of the lineup.
Just to pile on -- Matt Kemp will also have cleanup surgery on AC joint in shoulder at some pt. 6 weeks recovery time. Planned for some time
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) September 30, 2013
Plunkett did have some good news for Dodgers fans. Apparently shortstop Hanley Ramirez and outfielder Carl Crawford are ready to go for the playoffs.
If you need some good news - #Dodgers Stan Conte said both Hanley Ramirez (sciatica) and Carl Crawford (back stiffness) 100 pct for playoffs
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) September 30, 2013
The Dodgers are going to need both of their services for the postseason. I think that Los Angeles is actually in a good position with their starting pitching. It is going to be tough to beat Kershaw, Greinke and the rest of that rotation. If they can get some runs I believe they are going to the World Series.