Dodgers’ Matt Kemp shocked by one-game suspension
Matt Kemp found out Friday he was suspended one game for a shoving match with Texas Rangers catcher Robinson Chirinos.
“Shocking,” Kemp said.
Chirinos also received a one-game suspension and served it Friday. Kemp appealed and can play until the appeal is heard or he withdraws it.
“Hopefully, it is overturned,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “You can debate who instigated that confrontation. There wasn’t a punch thrown, on his part. There were obviously emotions on both sides. It’s old-school baseball.
“No harm, no foul.”
In the third inning of Wednesday’s game, Kemp barreled over Chirinos at home while trying to score. Chirinos took exception, and the two shoved each other as benches cleared. In its announcement, the league said the suspensions were levied not for the play itself but for the “on-field altercation.”
“I don’t think anybody should be suspended,” Kemp said. “Nothing happened. Just a little pushing. I’ve seen way worse.”
Kemp said he had “done way crazier things” but could not recall the details of previous suspensions.
“Maybe I could ask my mom and my grandma,” he said. “They would know.”
Kemp was suspended four games in 2008, after he traded shoves and wrestled with Colorado Rockies catcher Yorvit Torrealba.
In this case, Kemp and Chirinos had the briefest of scuffles.
“Nobody got hurt,” Kemp said. “I think we’re both living and breathing.”
On Friday, the Rangers put reliever Chris Martin on the disabled list. Martin strained a hamstring running in from the bullpen when the benches cleared.
“Maybe they blame that on me,” Kemp said, laughing. “I hope he’s OK.”
Kershaw back soon?
Clayton Kershaw, who has not pitched in two weeks because of a lower back strain, threw a bullpen session Friday. The next step, Roberts said, would be a simulated game or minor league rehabilitation assignment.
Kershaw previously sat out four weeks because of biceps tendinitis. He returned after one simulated game and no rehabilitation assignment, then pitched one game and returned to the disabled list.
He has pitched one major league game since May 1. Roberts said the Dodgers would leave it to Kershaw to determine how many simulated games and/or rehab assignments the three-time Cy Young winner would need.
“As long as his health isn’t in question … I don’t see a problem with letting him drive the performance or execution part of it,” Roberts said. “To have a healthy Clayton take the mound, feeling healthy and strong, we’ll bet on that.”
Short hops
The Dodgers plan to give rookie Caleb Ferguson a third start Sunday and activate Rich Hill from the disabled list to start Tuesday in Chicago. …
The Dodgers put reliever Pedro Baez on the disabled list because of biceps tendinitis and recalled catcher/infielder Kyle Farmer. The disabled list currently includes nine pitchers: Kershaw, Hill, Baez, Walker Buehler, Tony Cingrani, Tom Koehler, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Dennis Santana and Julio Urias. …
The Dodgers plan to activate infielder Chase Utley during next week’s series in Chicago. ...
Ed Roebuck, who pitched for the only Brooklyn Dodgers team to win a World Series and the first Dodgers team in Los Angeles, died Thursday. He was 86.
Follow Bill Shaikin on Twitter @BillShaikin
UPDATES:
6:55 p.m.: This report has been updated with reaction to Matt Kemp’s suspension.
This report was originally published at 2:25 p.m.
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