Matt Kemp and MLB's 13 Most Critical Injury Updates

We're pretty much halfway through the second month of the 2012 MLB regular season, and the injuries are starting to pile up.

Not even Matt Kemp is immune to the injury bug's bite. The star centerfielder of the Los Angeles Dodgers had to leave Sunday's game against the Colorado Rockies due to a nagging left hamstring injury, and now, there's some buzz about him possibly landing on the disabled list.

Kemp's injury isn't the only big injury situation worth monitoring at the outset of another week of Major League Baseball. Here's a roundup of the latest injury news from around the league.

Note: Players listed in alphabetical order.

Adrian Beltre, 3B, Texas Rangers

Adrian Beltre found himself back at third base for the first time in a while on Sunday, but he's still feeling the effects of a tender left hamstring.

According to Adam Boedeker of NBC 5 (Dallas-Fort Worth), the Rangers are trusting Beltre to be smart. They trust him not to push himself too hard, especially when it comes to meaningless situations.

Boedeker thinks this would be a good time to put Beltre on the DL so he can rest and get back to being 100 percent healthy. The Rangers are about to play a handful of easy series, and they should be able to handle them without Beltre in the lineup.

Beltre is having a strong season at the plate. His batting average is up over .300, and he has six home runs and 22 RBI. The Rangers lead the majors in runs scored and other major offensive categories, so Boedeker has a point about them not missing Beltre if they were to put him on the DL.

Ike Davis, 1B, New York Mets

New York Mets first baseman Ike Davis was scratched from the starting lineup on Sunday due to flu-like symptoms, but it sounds like he's going to be just fine for Monday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers.

According to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com, Davis is in the Mets starting lineup for Monday.

Davis did pinch-hit for Jon Niese on Sunday, grounding out to the pitcher in the seventh inning. Niese was also suffering from flu-like symptoms on Monday, but he managed to pitch six strong innings anyway.

Davis is batting .174 this season with five home runs. It's worth noting that he was diagnosed with valley fever back in March, according to ESPNNewYork.com.

Jorge De La Rosa, SP, Colorado Rockies

The Colorado Rockies desperately need starting pitching help. The good news for them is that help is on the way.

Jorge De La Rosa is on his way back from Tommy John surgery. He had to exit a recent rehab start after just one inning with forearm tightness, but Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post has reported that the Rockies don't think it's a serious issue.

De La Rosa is expected to make another rehab start for Double-A Tulsa on Thursday. If that start goes well, he'll move on to make two for starts for Triple-A Colorado Springs.

If those go well, he could rejoin Colorado's starting rotation in early June. He'll provide a boost for a Rockies rotation that currently has the worst ERA of any rotation in the National League.

Danny Duffy, SP, Kansas City Royals

Danny Duffy may have a serious left elbow injury.

As reported by MLB.com, Duffy left his start against the Chicago White Sox on Sunday after he felt a "twinge" in his left elbow during his second pitch of the game. He only made it through three batters before leaving.

Royals manager Ned Yost called the injury "medial left-elbow tightness." Duffy was scheduled to undergo an MRI today.

Rob Dutton of The Kansas City Star tweeted today that the Royals are "fearing the worst" when it comes to Duffy's elbow. They've already placed him on the disabled list, per Rotoworld.

Whenever elbows are involved, Tommy John surgery is a possibility. Duffy may be out of commission for a long time.

Carl Crawford, LF, Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox had to shut down high-priced left fielder Carl Crawford in late April due to left wrist and elbow issues, but it sounds like he's on the right track towards returning.

According to Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe, Crawford thinks he is seven to 10 days away from ramping up his rehab activities. 

“It would be swinging a bat before throwing,’’ Crawford said. “It’s frustrating being out, but I want to make sure I don’t have any setbacks with it.’’

Crawford had surgery on his wrist this offseason, and it was discovered in late April that he had a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament. 

The Red Sox are currently third in baseball in runs scored playing without Crawford and, for the most part, Jacoby Ellsbury.

Carlos Gomez, CF, Milwaukee Brewers

Milwaukee Brewers centerfielder Carlos Gomez had to go on the 15-day DL earlier this month with a strained left hamstring, but it won't be long before he's back in Milwaukee's lineup.

According to the Associated Press, Gomez is going to go on a minor league rehab assignment this week. If there are not setbacks, he could come off the DL as soon as he is eligible.

Gomez was hitting .280 with five stolen bases at the time he was placed on the DL.

Matt Kemp, CF, Los Angeles Dodgers

Matt Kemp was held out of the Dodgers starting lineup last Sunday against the Chicago Cubs due to a problem with his left hamstring, and that same problem flared up again this Sunday at Dodger Stadium.

As reported by ESPNLosAngeles.com, Kemp left Sunday's game after grounding out twice in the first three innings. He was scheduled to undergo and MRI, and the word from ESPN's Buster Olney is that the Dodgers will know in a few days whether Kemp needs to go on the DL.

"I'm not afraid to do it if that is what we have to do,'' Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said of the possibility of Kemp going on the DL. "I will let the medical people tell us what they think. They know a lot more about it than me."

Kemp himself said he is "definitely" not going to go on the DL.

For what it's worth, new team boss Magic Johnson tweeted today that he thinks Kemp should take some time to rest so his hammy can get back to being 100 percent.

Kemp doesn't need to be 100 percent healthy to dominate, but it's too early in the season for him to risk a more significant injury. And of course, hamstring injuries are notoriously tricky.

Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP, Boston Red Sox

It won't be long before Daisuke Matsuzaka rejoins Boston's starting rotation.

Dice-K is on the mend from Tommy John surgery, and the word from Joe McDonald of ESPNBoston.com is that he is going to make two more starts with Triple-A Pawtucket before he gets the call to the majors.

Sox manager Bobby Valentine hinted that the extra starts are meant to help Dice-K round into form.

"I didn't think he was as good as he should be," Valentine said after watching tape of Dice-K's most recent rehab start. "His mechanics weren't very good at all. But he's throwing pain-free, so that's good."

Boston's starting rotation has a 5.67 ERA, which is second-worst in the majors.

Carl Pavano, SP, Minnesota Twins

Minnesota Twins veteran hurler Carl Pavano has been dealing with some right shoulder discomfort recently, but it's apparently nothing serious.

According to a report from FoxSportsNorth.com, an MRI revealed some inflammation in Pavano's right shoulder, but no structural damage. He plans to start on Monday against the Cleveland Indians.

However, Pavano says there's a chance he may have to get a cortisone shot if the pain doesn't go away.

Pavano wanted to get an MRI primarily because his velocity down this season. He has an ERA over 5.00, and hitters are hitting close to .300 off him this season.

Carlos Quentin, OF, San Diego Padres

The San Diego Padres are in desperate need of offense. One guy who won't be around to help in the immediate future is Carlos Quentin.

Quentin is busy rehabbing his way back from offseason knee surgery. But as reported by Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune, Quentin is having trouble getting his right knee up to speed. His Padres debut has been pushed back at least another week.

“We did feel like Carlos was coming along,” said Padres manager Bud Black. “This is an accumulation over the past several days. This gives us an idea of where we are. This lets us know he has to do some more treatment and exercise.”

Quentin's surgery was eight weeks ago. He was supposed to be out only four to six weeks.

Nolan Reimold, OF, Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Nolan Reimold is eligible to come off the disabled list on Wednesday, but he doesn't think he's going to be ready in time.

According to MLB.com, Reimold had an epidural on Friday morning designed to treat a bulging disc in his cervical spine. It may be a few more days before the results of the epidural can be interpreted.

Reimold landed on the DL in the first place because he was dealing with neck spasms and numbness in his fingers. Despite those issues, he was hitting .313 with five home runs at the time he was put on the DL.

He says he is feeling better than he was, but he stopped short of giving a timetable for his return. He's hoping the epidural will put him "over the hump."

Justin Verlander, SP, Detroit Tigers

Justin Verlander has lasted at least six innings in 50 consecutive starts, but he's apparently not quite indestructible.

During Verlander's start against the Oakland A's on Sunday, a callus on his right thumb cracked open and started bleeding in the seventh inning. The injury forced him to make an early exit.

According to MLive.com, Verlander doesn't think his wounded thumb is going to keep him from making his next start against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland, however, said the team will wait and see.

Verlander said he'd been dealing with the callus all season, but it hadn't been an issue until Sunday. 

Rickie Weeks, 2B, Milwaukee Brewers

Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks hasn't played since getting hit in the hand with a pitch on Friday against the Chicago Cubs.

The good news, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, is that Weeks does not have a broken hand. He is, however, going to be reevaluated each day, and Brewers manager Ron Roenicke hinted a DL stint is a possibility.

"If you start getting to a week like with (Carlos) Gomez (and his strained hamstring), then it's time where you need to do something," said Roenicke.

Weeks is batting just .158 so far this season.

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