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Matt Kemp Accumulating Some Numbers

It's no secret that Matt Kemp has been amazing so far this season. At one point through the third inning on Friday night, Kemp had reached base for eight consecutive plate appearances, and is now hitting .331/.421/.629 on the season. Is there a more confident hitter in baseball right now than Kemp?

Kemp homered last night, passing Prince Fielder for the National League lead with 21 long balls. We already know Kemp is the first Dodger ever to reach the 20-20 club in the first 81 games of the season, and one of just nine major leaguers since 1919 to do so. With the halfway point coming with Tuesday's game in Minnesota, let's see how Kemp stacks up with other L.A. Dodgers first halves.

Through 77 games, Kemp already has 21 home runs, 60 RBI, and 50 runs scored. There have only been nine L.A. Dodgers to score 100 runs and drive in 100 in the same season, and Kemp is on pace to join them. In terms of the old reliable counting stats, Kemp is climbing the charts in both home runs and RBI in the first 81 games, with four games left to add to his totals:

Most Home Runs Through 81 Games, LA Dodgers
Player Year HR Season
Gary Sheffield 2000 27 43
Shawn Green 2002 25 42
Eric Karros 2000 23 31
Steve Garvey 1977 22 33
Adrian Beltre 2004 22 48
Matt Kemp 2011 21 ???
Pedro Guerrero
1985 21 33
Mike Piazza
1996 21 40
Source: Baseball-Reference.com

 

Most RBI Through 81 Games, LA Dodgers
Player Year RBI Season
Tommy Davis 1962 81 153
Steve Garvey 1977 76 115
Mike Piazza 1994* 72 92
Gary Sheffield 2000 71 109
Ron Cey 1977 71 110
Eric Karros 2000 67 106
Steve Garvey 1980 66 106
Steve Garvey 1974 63 111
Shawn Green 2001 63 125
Shawn Green 2002 63 114
Matt Kemp 2011 60 ???
Jimmy Wynn 1974 60 108
*Strike-shortened season (114 games)

For comparison, Kemp hit his 21st home run last season on August 22, in game 125, and got his 60th RBI on August 2, in game 106.