Matt Kemp injury: Dodgers CF could return within 2 weeks, but no timetable yet

Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp ran in the outfield at Dodger Stadium on Friday before their game against the Rays, as he continues to progress from his left ankle sprain. Manager Don Mattingly estimated that Kemp could return inside of two weeks, though Kemp sounded more cautious.

"I don't have a timeline. I'll know when my leg feels good," Kemp said. "Hopefully it's sooner rather than later."

Kemp injured the ankle on a freak play at home plate in the ninth inning of the Dodgers' 9-2 victory over the Nationals in Washington D.C. on July 21. It was his first game back from another stint on the disabled list with a shoulder injury.

"I know he was running in the weight room and doing a lot of agility stuff," Mattingly said. "He looked a lot better today. He's going in the right direction."

Kemp is hitting .263/.319/.382 with five home runs in 62 games this season, but since missing 24 games with a right hamstring injury in June is hitting .324/.390/.622 with three home runs in 11 games.

Kemp, who has missed 53 of the Dodgers' 115 games this season including Friday, will almost certainly need a minor league rehab assignment before he is activated.