Braves' Kemp looks to return versus Reds (Aug 19, 2017)
ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Braves hope to have left fielder Matt Kemp back in the lineup on Saturday for the middle game of their home series with the Cincinnati Reds.
"All things are pointing to a go right now," Braves manager Brian Snitker said after the Atlanta training staff put Kemp's right hamstring through some final tests Friday at SunTrust Park.
Kemp, hitting .290 with 14 homers and 44 RBIs, hasn't played since July 28, when he strained his right hamstring for the second time this season.
The 32-year-old slugger also spent time on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring and the three DL stints have limited him to 88 games.
"That's a pretty big presence in the lineup when you don't have it," Snitker said. "It will mean a lot to our lineup to get him back in there."
Kemp was a force at the plate for the Braves after being acquired from San Diego at the end of July last season, hitting .280 with 12 homers and 39 RBIs in 56 games.
His work with the Braves allowed Kemp to finish the season with 35 homers and 108 RBIs -- his best power numbers since 2011 with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Rookie right-hander Robert Stephenson (0-4, 6.64 ERA) will start Saturday's game for the Reds against Braves right-hander Julio Teheran.
Teheran hopes he's back on track after pitching seven scoreless innings in a no-decision at Colorado on Monday, but he's 1-8 with a 7.07 ERA at SunTrust Park during a disappointing season.
Teheran is 3-2 with a 3.64 ERA lifetime against the Reds, but allowed five runs and a season-worst 11 hits over five innings in a victory at Cincinnati on June 4.
Stephenson returns to the Reds rotation after following up a stint on the disabled list with two scoreless innings of relief against Milwaukee last Sunday.
Stephenson, who has made three starts and 17 relief appearances, bruised his right shoulder Aug. 2 diving for a pop up and was placed on the DL two days later.
The Reds (52-71) are starting three rookies in the series against the Braves (54-66) and the rotation could be even younger than it has been most of the season the rest of the way.
Veteran right-hander Scott Feldman was placed on the 10-day disabled list Friday because of lingering right knee inflammation and may be done for the year.
He will be re-examined in Cincinnati.
"I think one of the options will be season-ending," Reds manager Bryan Price said.
Feldman made two starts after returning from a DL stint of nearly a month and allowed five home runs over 3 2/3 innings Thursday against the Chicago Cubs while battling issues with the knee.
"You could tell he was more limited in yesterday's outing," Price said. "He shouldn't be out there when he can't field his position."
Feldman, the Reds' Opening Day starter, is 7-7 with a 4.77 ERA in 21 starts.
Asher Wojciechowski, bumped to the bullpen with Stephenson's rejoining the rotation, could return to a starter role in place of Feldman.
