Kemp likely to miss Opening Series in Australia

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp won't make the club's trip to Australia for the Opening Series, manager Don Mattingly indicated on Friday.

Mattingly said he was "not hopeful" Kemp would be ready, no surprise since Kemp still hasn't run on his surgically repaired left ankle and the club breaks camp in a little more than three weeks.

Kemp will undergo an MRI exam next week, and if surgeon Robert Anderson gives the green light, Kemp will add running to a program that already includes hitting, throwing and fielding ground balls. Even so, time is running out for him to appear in the field in any Cactus League games.

Kemp is attempting to return from a career-threatening injury to the weight-bearing talus bone in his left ankle, a stress reaction and cartilage chip. The repair surgery included a microfracture procedure to produce additional cartilage-like substance for extra protection to the bone.

The tricky part of Kemp's comeback is that if he returns too soon, the bone can be damaged permanently, and there is no way to accurately predict when the bone is fully healed.

That is why his rehab during Spring Training has been overly conservative, and also why the club is not preoccupied with the prospect of having too many outfielders.

Kemp will open the season on the disabled list, his sixth visit there since May 2012. Prior to that, Kemp was an iron man, at one stretch playing in 399 consecutive games. He's also returning from his second shoulder operation in as many seasons.