Matt Kemp & the home run drought

Matt Kemp had a pair of three-hit games over the weekend in Baltimore, and though two of the hits were of the infield variety the positive results were much needed by Kemp and perhaps a sign of a turnaround. But Kemp is still in search of power, and is in the midst of one of the worst home run droughts of his career.

The longest streak came early in his career, before Kemp became Kemp. He remains the only Dodger to hit seven home runs in his first 18 days in the majors, which I'm sure is the production many see for a possible Yasiel Puig call-up this season. But the downside for Kemp was the 46-game adjustment that came immediately afterward, with no home runs and a line of .231/.259/.300.

Whether Kemp is still feeling the effects of his offseason left shoulder surgery, or at least still exhibiting bad habits in his swing because of it, he is off to a bad start in a month he usually dominates. Kemp had never gone more than nine games to start a season without a home run before this year, which to date has been 18 games.

Kemp is a career .330/.389/.577 with 30 home runs and 105 RBI in 144 games, his best month across the board.

Just not so, this year. Yet. But there are still seven games left in the month for Kemp to try and turn things around.