Kemp strains right hamstring

Matt Kemp’s nightmare season took another unfortunate turn Wednesday night, as the slumping center fielder strained his right hamstring in the Dodgers’ 4-3 defeat to the Angels at Angel Stadium.

Kemp is scheduled to undergo a MRI exam Thursday to examine the strain, which was described as “mild” by Manager Don Mattingly.

Asked how much time he expected to miss, Kemp replied somberly, “I don’t know. I don’t know.”

Mattingly was hopeful Kemp would be sidelined for only a few days.

Kemp missed 51 games last season because of a strained left hamstring.

“It’s not as bad as last year,” Kemp said. “But when you feel it grab, you have to take it easy and make sure you’re careful with it because it can get worse.”

Kemp’s injury came at a time when Hanley Ramirez was preparing to return from his own strained hamstring. Ramirez made it through a workout without any problems, but the Dodgers decided to be cautious and delayed the start of his rehabilitation assignment with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga by a day to Friday.

Kemp was injured chasing a seventh-inning double hit by Mike Trout into the gap in right-center field.

While the Dodgers were making a pitching change later in the inning, Kemp told Andre Ethier, “I think I messed my hamstring up a little bit.”

Ethier replied, “You’ve got to come out.”

“He kind of reminded me that I’d rather miss a couple days and not miss a month like I did last year,” Kemp said.

Kemp was hitless in three at-bats, striking out twice and lowering his season average to .251.

This was the second straight game in which Kemp made a premature exit. A day earlier at Dodger Stadium, Kemp was hit by a pitch in the second inning. He complained of numbness in his arm and was replaced by Skip Schumaker for the ninth inning of the team’s 3-0 win over the Angels.

Schumaker, who also replaced Kemp on Wednesday, could be a short-term substitute for Kemp in center field. But if Kemp is placed on the disabled list, the Dodgers could turn to top outfield prospect Joc Pederson, who is batting .313 with double-A Chattanooga.

Ramirez defends Kemp

Considering his own experience recovering from a major shoulder operation, Ramirez offered an upbeat view of Kemp’s season, which has widely been described as disappointing.

“He’s doing awesome,” Ramirez said. “I was hitting .190. He’s hitting over .250.”

Adrian Gonzalez said earlier this month that he never fully regained his power after his shoulder operation before the 2011 season. Ramirez said he too has never recovered his strength.

Ramirez was batting .198 through May 4 of last year with the Miami Marlins. Traded to the Dodgers in July, he finished the season with a .257 average and 24 home runs.

A former National League batting champion, Ramirez said he doesn’t expect to ever regain what he lost.

But Ramirez said he has never lost confidence and is certain of his place in baseball.

“One of the best players in the game,” Ramirez said.

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dylan.hernandez@latimes.com

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