Dodgers News: Matt Kemp Ruled Out For Playoffs, Season Over

Just when everyone thought the Dodgers were getting back to 100 percent, Matt Kemp was surprisingly scratched from the lineup yesterday with aggravated symptoms in his injured left ankle.

Kemp wasn’t in the lineup today as expected and after the 2-1 Dodgers loss, he was seen on crutches during the postseason rally on the field. However, right after the rally, the news got even worse for the Dodgers according to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times:

Kemp ruled out for playoffs.

— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) September 29, 2013

Kemp said ankle could break if he continues playing.

— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) September 29, 2013

It’s really tough news for the Dodgers since Andre Ethier has been sidelined with a sprained ankle and might not be able to play the field. If that’s the case, Skip Schumaker would likely be the starter for Game 1 as he’s surprisingly had good numbers against projected Braves starter Kris Medlen.

It’s been a really tough season for Kemp as he’s battled hamstring, shoulder and ankle injuries and only played in 73 games this season. Since he was activated off the DL, Kemp was hitting .333 with one home run and six RBIs as he looked to be the center fielder that finished runner-up in the 2011 MVP race.

Not only will Kemp be shut down with his ankle injury, he’s also going to have a minor surgery to clean up injured left shoulder. The Dodgers won’t need to submit a roster for the NLDS until Thursday, but it’ll be interesting to see how Kemp’s injury affects the decision making.

Get better Matt, we’ll need you next year.