Tony Kemp
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MLB Player Data
DateNewsComment
Apr 16 2024Kemp signed a minor-league contract with the Twins on Tuesday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp lost his job with the Orioles when they promoted Jackson Holliday, but he didn't have to wait long to find another gig. With the Twins dealing with a couple injuries in their infield between Royce Lewis (quad) and Carlos Correa (intercostal), Kemp will provide some added depth.
Apr 13 2024Kemp elected free agency Saturday, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After being pushed off the 40-man roster Wednesday in favor of top prospect Jackson Holliday, Kemp exercised his right to refuse an outright assignment and will now explore his options in free agency. The 32-year-old slashed .209/.303/.304 last season with the Athletics and could find work as a bench player for a team in need of depth at second base or in the outfield.
Apr 10 2024The Orioles designated Kemp for assignment Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp's removal from the 40-man roster opens a spot for top prospect Jackson Holliday, who was called up from Triple-A Norfolk in a corresponding move and is expected to take on a near-everyday role in the middle infield. Though he was able to crack the Orioles' Opening Day roster when he was signed shortly after being cut by the Reds in spring training, Kemp appeared in only five of Baltimore's first 10 games while going hitless in his nine at-bats.
Mar 26 2024Kemp signed a one-year contract with the Orioles on Tuesday, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp opted out of his minor-league deal with the Reds last week but has quickly caught on with a contender on a big-league contract. He will be an option to see some action at second base and left field, but he figures to ultimately settle into a reserve role.
Mar 18 2024The Reds reassigned Kemp to minor-league camp Monday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With a lifetime .238/.325/.352 slash line (94 wRC+) over 2,237 career big-league plate appearances, Kemp was one of the more accomplished non-roster invitees who joined the Reds for camp, but he never had much of a chance at winning a spot on Cincinnati's Opening Day roster in light of the team's ample infield and outfield depth. If Kemp isn't willing to report to Triple-A Louisville to begin the season, the Reds could grant him his release and allow him to join an organization that can present him with a clearer path to a big-league roster spot.
Feb 23 2024Kemp signed a minor-league contract with the Reds on Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 32-year-old veteran was an above-average hitter in 2021 but slashed just .224/.306/.321 with the Athletics over the last two seasons. Kemp offers the ability to play second base and the outfield but seems an odd fit for a Cincinnati roster already teeming with position player options.
Sep 30 2023Kemp (ankle) isn't in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp hasn't seen any action since Sept. 24 due to a right ankle sprain. It's unclear if he'll be available off the bench in Saturday's matchup.
Sep 29 2023Kemp (ankle) is out of the lineup again Friday versus the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This is the sixth straight absence for Kemp, who sprained his right ankle last Friday against the Tigers. JJ Bleday continues to man left field.
Sep 27 2023Kemp (ankle) remains absent from the lineup Wednesday at Minnesota. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp hasn't started a game for the Athletics since last Friday due to a right ankle sprain. JJ Bleday is patrolling left field Wednesday as Zack Gelof covers second base.
Sep 26 2023Kemp (ankle) is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp hasn't been in the lineup since Friday versus Detroit, when he exited the contest with an ankle sprain. However, the 31-year-old received an at-bat off the bench Sunday, so the injury doesn't appear to be a serious issue.
Sep 24 2023Kemp (ankle) isn't in the Athletics' lineup Sunday against Detroit. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp will now miss two straight starts after exiting Friday's contest due to a right ankle sprain. Esteury Ruiz will pick up another start in left field and bat in the leadoff spot while Kemp continues to recover.
Sep 23 2023Kemp (ankle) isn't in the Athletics' lineup Saturday against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp had to make an early exit from Friday's contest after suffering a right ankle sprain in the sixth inning, and the injury will keep him out of Saturday's game as well. Esteury Ruiz will start in left field in Kemp's place and bat ninth.
Sep 22 2023Kemp was removed from Friday's game against the Tigers with a right ankle sprain, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp turned his ankle while moving from first base to second base on a Lawrence Butler single in the bottom of the sixth inning. He remained in the game initially and scored on a Shea Langeliers three-run homer, but Esteury Ruiz entered to play left field in the top of the seventh. Kemp is probably day-to-day leading into the remainder of Oakland's weekend series versus Detroit.
Sep 21 2023Kemp is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Oakland is rolling out an all-right-handed lineup with Detroit throwing left-hander Tarik Skubal. Kemp has drawn only 17 plate appearances versus southpaws this year.
Sep 17 2023Kemp is not in the lineup Sunday versus the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp will end up starting in only one game of the three-game series against the Padres. However, he did record an at-bat Sept. 15 when he did not start. A lefty started that game for the Padres, and their primary pitcher today seems to be lefty Ken Waldichuk with righty Joe Boyle as the opener. Esteury Ruiz will play in the left fielder's place.
Sep 10 2023Kemp went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in Sunday's 9-4 loss to the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp has picked up a steal in each of his last two games after going 29 contests without one. In that time, he's seen his once-steady playing time drop into more of a strong-side platoon role, and he hit just .227 during his dry spell on the basepaths. For the year, Kemp is slashing .215/.310/.308 with four home runs, 14 steals, 26 RBI and 40 runs scored over 388 plate appearances. With Zack Gelof commanding a starting role at second base, most of Kemp's playing time down the stretch will likely be in left field.
Sep 8 2023Kemp isn't in Oakland's lineup Friday against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lefty Jordan Montgomery will toe the slab for Texas to begin Friday's contest, so Kemp will stay put in the Athletics' dugout. Aledmys Diaz will take over as Oakland's left fielder and bat fourth.
Sep 6 2023Kemp is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ryan Noda is the only left-handed bat the Athletics have in there versus Toronto southpaw Hyun Jin Ryu. Brent Rooker will play left field while Kemp rests.
Sep 4 2023Kemp entered Sunday's win over the Angels as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning and delivered a two-run single in his only plate appearance. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp stepped into the batter's box for Carlos Perez in the seventh inning and snapped a 4-4 tie with a single to center that brought home Zack Gelof, Ryan Noda and Brent Rooker, the latter on a throwing error. Kemp ended up at third base on the play and subsequently came across to score in his own right on a Shea Langeliers double, making it quite the eventful cameo. The veteran recently went through a brief 0-for-12 skid over a five-game span, but he's now hit safely in back-to-back games and sports a .323 average and .916 OPS across his last 14 contests overall.
Sep 3 2023Kemp is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After starting in left field and leading off while going 1-for-4 at the dish in Saturday's 2-1 win, the lefty-hitting Kemp will retreat to the bench Sunday while the Halos bring southpaw Tyler Anderson to the hill. Aledmys Diaz will spell Kemp in left field while center fielder Esteury Ruiz serves as Oakland's table setter.
Aug 30 2023Kemp is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp will hit the bench for the matinee game after he started in left field and batted fifth in each of the past six contests, going 5-for-18 with a solo home run, three walks, a double and three additional runs. Esteury Ruiz will replace Kemp in left field Wednesday.
Aug 26 2023Kemp went 3-for-3 with a hit-by-pitch, a walk and two runs in a win over the White Sox on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: One day after belting just his fourth home run of the season, Kemp went back to playing his trademark small ball and serving as an incessant thorn in the side of White Sox pitching throughout the night. The veteran pushed his season on-base percentage to .315 with Friday's production, a middling figure that's nevertheless his best since way back on April 12. Kemp now has back-to-back multi-hit efforts for the first time since late July and has a blistering .571 average (8-for-14) and 1.595 OPS over his last seven games.
Aug 25 2023Kemp went 2-for-4 with a double, a solo home run and an additional run in a win over the White Sox on Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It was an unusual night all the way around for Kemp, considering he hit out of the No. 5 spot in the order for only the third time all season and proceeded to belt only his fourth long ball of the campaign. Kemp got off to a quiet start in August, but he's heated up over the last six games by going 5-for-11 with two doubles, Thursday's homer, two RBI, two walks and Thursday's pair of runs.
Aug 19 2023Kemp went 2-for-3 with an RBI double in a loss to the Orioles on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After going 0-for-4 in his first game back from paternity leave Tuesday, Kemp got Wednesday off and then produced his first multi-hit effort since July 28 in the loss. The veteran hadn't recorded a hit in 14 plate appearances during August before Friday's pair of knocks, only his second multi-game slump since late June.
Aug 14 2023Kemp (personal) was activated from the paternity list Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp missed all of Oakland's weekend series against the Nationals following the birth of his child, but he has rejoined both the club and the roster and will be available moving forward.
Aug 11 2023Kemp was placed on the paternity leave list Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp figures to be away all weekend before rejoining the Athletics early next week in St. Louis. Lawrence Butler is taking Kemp's spot on the active roster.
Aug 7 2023Kemp (rib) went 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored in Monday's 5-3 loss to the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp left Wednesday's game with a rib issue but was able to return after missing a handful of games. He got the start in left field and played all nine defensive innings there before Esteury Ruiz hit for him in the bottom of the ninth. Kemp should be good to resume his usual role going forward. He's slashing .215/.304/.308 with three home runs, 22 RBI, 34 runs scored and a career-high 12 stolen bases through 91 contests.
Aug 6 2023Kemp (rib) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp hasn't started since exiting Wednesday's 10-1 loss to the Dodgers with a rib contusion, but he made a cameo off the bench in Saturday's 2-1 win. He entered the game as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the eighth and drew a walk, then played left field for the final frame. The injury could be behind Kemp at this point, as his continued absence from the lineup may be a result of him losing his spot in the everyday outfield after Esteury Ruiz returned from the 10-day injured list Saturday.
Aug 3 2023Kemp is out of the lineup Thursday versus the Dodgers due to a rib contusion, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's not a serious concern, though, and Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said Kemp could be available off the bench. The 31-year-old utilityman is slashing .217/.303/.310 with three homers and 12 steals in 88 games this season for Oakland.
Aug 2 2023Kemp was removed from Wednesday's game against the Dodgers, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp made an incredible effort in a failed attempt to catch a foul ball during the sixth inning, jumping over the wall in the process. Cody Thomas later came in to pinch hit for Kemp, so it's possible the 31-year-old injured himself, or the Athletics opted to sub in their bench players during a lopsided contest. If Kemp turns out to be hurt, the A's should provide an update on his status shortly after the game.
Jul 26 2023Kemp went 3-for-4 with a stolen base in Wednesday's 8-3 loss to the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp snapped an 0-for-11 skid with his strong performance in this contest. He also recorded his 12th steal of the season, six of which have come in July. The 31-year-old is slashing .212/.300/.301 with three home runs, 19 RBI, 31 runs scored, eight doubles and three triples over 83 contests. Kemp's retained a starting job in left field with Ramon Laureano back, which has pushed Seth Brown to fill in for Ryan Noda (jaw) as the strong-side platoon option at first base.
Jul 21 2023Kemp went 2-for-4 with a double, a stolen base and two runs scored in Friday's 6-4 loss to the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp saw his seven-game hitting streak snapped Thursday, but he bounced back well Friday. The 31-year-old has shown more of a willingness to run lately, recording seven steals over his last 16 contests. He's slashing a meager .213/.306/.307 with three home runs, 19 RBI, 31 runs scored, seven doubles and three triples over 79 contests, and his 11 stolen bases match his career high from last year. Kemp is seeing most of his playing time in left field lately, though that could change once Ramon Laureano (hand) is activated from the injured list, which may push Seth Brown out of right field.
Jul 20 2023Kemp went 2-for-3 with a run in a win over the Red Sox on Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp's offensive renaissance continued out of the leadoff spot Wednesday, with the veteran's multi-hit effort serving as his fifth in the last 13 games and extending his hit streak to seven contests. Kemp's recipe for success over what is now a month-plus surge at the plate has been fairly straightforward -- he's made contact at an elite clip (6.1 percent strikeout rate) while seeing his BABIP rise from the abysmal .163 figure he carried from Opening Day through June 14 to a stellar .329 since that point.
Jul 10 2023Kemp went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a walk in a loss to the Red Sox on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran found his way back atop the order and hit safely for the seventh time in the last nine games. Kemp's steal, his fourth over that span, also brought him to within two of tying the career-best 11 he swiped a year ago. While he enters the All-Star break with his batting average just under the Mendoza Line at .197, the 31-year-old will begin the second half trending in the right direction after producing a .306/.375/.458 slash line with a double, two triples, two home runs and seven RBI across the 82 plate appearances covering his last 21 games.
Jul 8 2023Kemp will not start Saturday's game against the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp started against each of the last six lefties the Athletics faced but will hit the bench here against James Paxton. Jordan Diaz will start at second base Saturday.
Jul 6 2023Kemp went 2-for-4 with a two-run single, a stolen base and a run in a win over the Tigers on Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp extended the Athletics' lead to 7-0 with his sixth-inning single, which brought home JJ Bleday and Shea Langeliers. The veteran added his eighth stolen base of the campaign, with half of those coming in the last six contests. Kemp is also finally on the precipice of getting his season average over the Mendoza Line -- his fourth multi-hit effort in the last five games pushed that figure to .199, which represents a 53-point improvement since June 11.
Jul 3 2023Kemp went 2-for-5 with an RBI single, a stolen base and two runs in a loss to the White Sox on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Back atop the order for the sixth consecutive game, Kemp's torrid stretch at the plate continued with his third straight two-hit effort. The veteran's offensive transformation, which began June 15 after three consecutive days off, has been nothing short of astounding -- Kemp owns a .340 average, .964 OPS and microscopic 3.2 percent strikeout rate over that 16-game span, giving his average a 50-point boost to .196 in the process.
Jul 1 2023Kemp went 2-for-4 with an RBI triple, a stolen base and a run in a win over the White Sox on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran's second-inning three-bagger was his first of the season and extended Kemp's hot stretch at the plate to 14 games. The 31-year-old owns a .333 average and .976 OPS over that span, squaring up for a double, Friday's triple and a pair of homers along the way. Kemp also has three of his six steals on the season in the sample, and the fact he's on a non-contending team has seemingly afforded him the necessary time to bust out of what was at one point a career-worst offensive funk.
Jun 26 2023Kemp went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in a loss to the Blue Jays on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp's sixth-inning homer to right field ended up being the only thing standing between the Athletics and a shutout. The veteran infielder has now reached safely in 11 straight games, a stretch where he's sporting a .355 average, 1.054 OPS, 12.8 percent walk rate and tiny 5.1 percent strikeout rate.
Jun 22 2023Kemp went 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs in a loss to the Guardians on Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp authored one of two multi-hit efforts for the Athletics on the night, extending his hitting streak to six games in the process. As rotten a string of luck at the plate as the veteran endured over most of the first two plus-months of the season, the pendulum seems to have swung completely in the opposite direction. With the help of a massive boost in hard-contact rate from 21.2 percent to 46.7 percent, Kemp is sporting an astounding .538 BABIP during his current hot stretch that thoroughly dwarfs the .163 figure he was saddled with from Opening Day through June 14.
Jun 21 2023Kemp will start at second base and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: At least for the time being, Kemp seems to have re-emerged as the Athletics' preferred starting second baseman against right-handed pitching. He'll stick in the lineup for the third straight game while Jace Peterson slides back over to third base in place of Jonah Bride, who appears to have moved into a reserve role.
Jun 20 2023Kemp went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and an additional run scored in Tuesday's loss against Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp swatted his second long ball of 2023 and his first since April 21 (38 games) to extend his hit streak to five games. Leading up to the hit streak, Kemp went hitless over 23 at-bats but has gone 6-for-12 (.500) with three runs scored since.
Jun 19 2023Kemp went 1-for-2 with a double and a walk in a loss to the Phillies on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The bar is lowered for what qualifies as a hot streak for Kemp thus far in 2023, so his fourth straight game with a hit is noteworthy by those standards. The profound extent of the veteran's struggles has been somewhat of a mystery by the metrics -- he's carrying an impressive 11.3 percent walk rate and minuscule 11.8 percent strikeout rate -- yet a .182 BABIP has been a major albatross. Kemp may finally be starting to come into some better luck when making contact, but regular playing time is anything but assured on a non-contending team as the season heads into the heart of summer.
Jun 16 2023Kemp went 1-for-2 with two walks and a run in a loss to the Rays on Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp got his first start since June 11 and drew multiple free passes for the fourth time this season. The struggling veteran had been mired in an 0-for-23 slump that encompassed his previous 12 games, so the eventful night at the plate was a welcome sight. Despite his ugly .150 batting average and .459 OPS, Kemp's 12.4 percent strikeout rate is considerably above average and his 11.2 percent walk rate is the third highest of his career.
Jun 3 2023Kemp went 0-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base in a loss to the Marlins on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran, back in the lineup after consecutive off days, was able to achieve at least a modicum of offensive success while operating out of the bottom of the order. Kemp's walk marked only his third time reaching safely in the last eight games (20 plate appearances), with all of those instances coming via a free pass.
May 31 2023Kemp is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The lefty-hitting Kemp will predictably hit the bench with southpaw Jared Shuster on the bump for Atlanta on Wednesday, but the 31-year-old infielder also sat out Monday and Tuesday, when Oakland faced right-handers Michael Soroka and Bryce Elder. At this point, Kemp appears to have lost hold of a strong-side platoon role at second base while he's sporting a lowly .455 OPS over 162 plate appearances on the season.
May 30 2023Kemp isn't starting Tuesday against Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp hasn't recorded a hit in his last 14 at-bats, so he will begin Tuesday's contest in the dugout as Oakland searches for offensive production. Aledmys Diaz will take over at second base Tuesday and bat fourth.
May 29 2023Kemp is out of the lineup for Monday's game against Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp started at second base in four of the past five games but failed to break out of his season-long slumber at the dish, as he went hitless in nine at-bats and reached base twice in 11 plate appearances. He'll cede his spot in the lineup Monday to the newly recalled Jonah Bride, who will man third base while Jace Peterson shifts over to the keystone. If Bride can offer a spark at the plate in what will be his season debut with the big club, Kemp could soon find himself out of the lineup against right-handed pitching on a more regular basis.
May 28 2023Kemp, whose .464 OPS ranks last in MLB among hitters with at least 150 plate appearances, is confident he can snap out of his season-long funk, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. "Maybe I'm just a start-slow guy," Kemp said. "I've never been like that in the Minor Leagues. But maybe in the big leagues I just start slow...You always come to the field hopeful each day that good things can happen. It's going to turn. I've got to believe it will." ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp is also hitting a meager .077 (3-for-39) with no extra-base hits and just one RBI over his last 16 games, although he's struck out at just a 15.6 percent clip in that span while also being saddled with an absurdly low .094 BABIP. However, that latter figure can't completely be chalked up to bad luck; Kemp has played a role in his undoing by producing just a 9.7 percent line-drive rate and 11.8 percent hard-contact rate in that span, as well as a tiny 1.7 percent barrel rate for the season that places him in the lower fourth percentile of qualified hitters. Kemp also had a forgettable first half a season ago before hitting .278 with five home runs and 32 RBI in 62 post-All-Star-break games, and for the time being, he's hanging on to a regular role at second base against right-handed pitching.
May 23 2023Kemp is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game in Seattle. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp at started at second base in three of the Athletics' last four matchups with right-handed pitchers, but he'll head to the bench Tuesday with southpaw Marco Gonzales on the hill for Seattle. Even though Oakland recently sent Jordan Diaz back to Triple-A Las Vegas to remove competition for Kemp at second base, the 31-year-old may not be guaranteed a strong-side platoon role while he's holding down an ugly .167/.250/.227 slash line for the season.
May 14 2023Kemp is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The lefty-hitting Kemp will take a seat with southpaw Andrew Heaney on the bump, but Kemp's opportunities to play regularly against right-handed pitching could soon take a hit as well. With Aledmys Diaz (hamstring) returning from the injured list Sunday, the Athletics have one less infield spot available in the regular lineup versus righties. Since rookie Jordan Diaz has seemingly played his way into a full-time role and because fellow veteran Jace Peterson holds a 122-point advantage in OPS for the season (.607 to .485), Kemp looks like he could find himself as the odd man out of the lineup more often than not.
May 12 2023Kemp is not in the starting lineup for Friday's tilt against Texas. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp will take a seat against left-hander Martin Perez. Jordan Diaz will handle second-base duties and hit sixth.
May 8 2023Kemp will sit Monday versus the the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp will remain on the bench Monday as the Athletics face left-hander Nestor Cortes on the mound. Jordan Diaz will draw the start at second base and bat sixth in the series opener with New York.
May 7 2023Kemp is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The lefty-hitting Kemp will ride the pine Sunday while the Royals bring southpaw Ryan Yarbrough to the hill. Jordan Diaz will spell Kemp at the keystone after having previously sat out in each of the Athletics' previous five games while Oakland opposed right-handed starters.
May 6 2023Kemp went 3-for-4 with an RBI double, another two-bagger, a walk and a run in a win over the Royals on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The struggling veteran's three-hit night was part of a long-awaited offensive breakout by the seven-win Athletics and qualified as his most successful performance at the plate of the campaign thus far. Kemp may be finally starting to pick up a bit of momentum with the bat after limping to a .163 average over his first 24 games, as he's now hit safely in three of the last four contests.
Apr 30 2023Kemp is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 31-year-old was on the bench Saturday with righty Hunter Greene on the mound for Cincinnati, and the second baseman is sitting again Sunday against lefty Nick Lodolo. Kemp has gone 4-for-40 across his past 12 contests, and his playing time could dwindle further without a turnaround soon. Jordan Diaz will man the keystone in his place Sunday.
Apr 4 2023Kemp went 2-for-5 with a walkoff single, a run scored and a stolen base in Tuesday's 4-3 victory over the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With the score tied at 3-3, Kemp slashed a single to right to score Ryan Noda in the bottom of the ninth and give the Guardians the win. The veteran infielder/outfielder also came around to score in the second after stealing his first base of the season. Kemp won't provide much power and plays in a lethargic lineup, but he should hit at the top of the group against right-handers and does provide some versatility on benches.
Mar 31 2023Kemp went 1-for-3 with an RBI double, a walk and a run in the Athletics' win over the Angels on Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp operated out of the leadoff spot and ignited an eighth-inning rally with a double into the left-center gap that brought home Esteury Ruiz with the tying run. The veteran subsequently scored what would prove to be the winning run on Aledmys Diaz's single, capping off what was an encouraging start to the campaign for Kemp following a spring in which he hit a middling .233 across 53 plate appearances.
Mar 18 2023Kempt went 1-for-3 in Saturday's Cactus League contest against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp has really struggled thus far this spring, so it's nice to see the 31-year-old have some success. Even with the knock, the left-handed hitter is slashing just .154/.361/.192 in his time in Arizona. Kemp is likely to hit at or near the top of the order against right-handers for the A's while likely moving to the bottom or out of the lineup altogether against southpaws.
Jan 13 2023Kemp agreed to a one-year, $3.725 million contract with the A's on Friday to avoid arbitration, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 31-year-old made just over $1 million last season, and he'll more than triple that figure in 2023, which is his final year of arbitration eligibility. Kemp played in a career-high 147 games last year and had a .235/.307/.334 slash line with seven home runs, 46 RBI and 11 stolen bases.
Oct 3 2022Kemp isn't starting Monday against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp will take a seat for a second consecutive game since left-hander Patrick Sandoval is starting for the Halos on Monday. Seth Brown is taking over in left field and batting fifth.
Oct 2 2022Kemp is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp is 3-for-26 over his past eight games and will sit Sunday with southpaw Robbie Ray pitching for Seattle. Seth Brown will shift to left field while Cristian Pache starts in center.
Sep 29 2022Kemp went 1-for-3 with a stolen base and a run in a loss to the Angels on Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran led off and provided one of the few productive nights at the plate for a largely moribund Athletics offense. Kemp has been wielding a mostly productive bat for the last month-plus, posting a .286 average, .790 OPS, nine extra-base hits and 17 RBI over his last 28 games, all while striking out a tiny 6.1 percent clip in that sample. Both his RBI and stolen-base production are also at a career-best level this season, as Kemp has set new high-water marks with 45 runs driven in and 11 thefts (in 12 attempts) across 141 games.
Sep 27 2022Kemp is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp started the past 11 games and will head to the bench after he posted a .233/.283/.442 slash line with two home runs and seven RBI during that span. Jordan Diaz will step in at the keystone and bat sixth against Halos lefty Patrick Sandoval.
Sep 20 2022Kemp went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run in a 4-1 win against Seattle on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp got to Seattle starter Luis Castillo twice with a single in the third inning and go-ahead three-run home run in the fifth. The impressive performance continues a stellar September for the 30-year-old, who's slashing .321/.387/.571 with three long balls in 15 contests.
Sep 18 2022Kemp went 3-for-5 with a triple, two stolen bases and three runs in a win over the Astros on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran put together a textbook leadoff effort, serving as a constant thorn in the side of Astros pitching throughout the game. Kemp scored both the first and final runs of the game for Oakland, and he also crossed the plate on Seth Brown's critical three-run home run in the fifth inning that gave Oakland a 6-4 lead. The three runs pushed him to a new career high of 55, while the pair of key thefts boosted his total in that category to 10, also a new high-water mark. Kemp now has a trio of multi-hit efforts in three of his last seven games alone, a span during which he's posted a .346 average and 1.164 OPS.
Sep 15 2022Kemp went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk in a win over the Rangers on Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp's sixth-inning blast plated Nick Allen and brought the A's within a run at the time. The 30-year-old has now gone deep in back-to-back games and is on a late-season tear that shows no sign of abating -- factoring in Wednesday's production, Kemp boasts a .328 average, .905 OPS, six extra-base hits (three doubles, one triple, two home runs) and 12 RBI across his last 16 games.
Sep 13 2022Kemp is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp heads to the bench with southpaw Cole Ragans on the hill for Texas. Jonah Bride will start at the keystone and hit sixth.
Sep 12 2022Kemp went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, an RBI triple and an RBI single in a 10-3 victory over the White Sox on Sunday. He also scored four runs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp has been swinging a hot bat recently, and he added some power to the mix with his fifth home run and first triple of the season. Kemp now has hits in 12 of his last 13 games and has raised his average to .234 with the performance. Kemp was hitting as low as .201 in July. Kemp has scored 51 runs this season and is on the brink of topping his career-high total of 54 from last year.
Sep 10 2022Kemp went 2-for-4 with an RBI single and two runs in a loss to the White Sox on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp's hitting streak is now at 11 games following Friday's output. The veteran did see his 10-game stretch without a punchout end courtesy of a swing and miss of a Joe Kelly knuckle curve during his final plate appearance of the night, but Kemp's current .231 average qualifies as his best figure in that category since June 25.
Sep 9 2022Kemp (groin) went 1-for-2 with a walk in a loss to the White Sox on Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp's groin tightness kept him on the shelf for just one game, and the veteran extended his hitting streak to 10 games upon return. The 30-year-old has only one multi-hit effort during that span, but he's still produced an encouraging .308 average and .742 OPS in the sample while not striking out a single time in 42 plate appearances.
Sep 8 2022Kemp (groin) is starting Thursday's game against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp didn't play Wednesday against Atlanta due to groin tightness, but he'll start at second base and lead off a day later. He's in the midst of a nine-game hitting streak in which he's hit .297 with three doubles, seven runs and six RBI.
Sep 7 2022Kemp will sit Wednesday versus Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp will get a breather after he went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and two runs scored in Tuesday's 10-9 loss. Jonah Bride will replace him at second base and bat sixth in the series finale.
Sep 3 2022Kemp went 1-for-4 with a two-run single in a loss to the Orioles on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran tied the game at 2-2 with his fifth-inning knock, which plated Dermis Garcia and Vimael Machin. Kemp extended his hitting streak to six games in the process, a span during which he's hitting .308 (8-for-26), hasn't struck out and has accumulated six RBI thanks to a .429 average with men on base.
Aug 31 2022Kemp went 3-for-4 with a two-run double, another two-bagger and two runs in a win over the Nationals on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp enjoyed a much-needed breakout out of the top of the order, and his third-inning two-bagger plated Nick Allen and Cal Stevenson to snap a 4-4 tie. The veteran is still plagued by a lackluster .226/.302/.310 slash line, but he's now laced a career-high 21 doubles and is seven RBI away from eclipsing the career-best 37 he tallied a season ago.
Aug 21 2022Kemp, who went 2-for-4 with a two-run single and a run in an extra-inning win over the Mariners on Saturday, is now hitting .323 (10-for-31) over his last nine games. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran has four multi-hit efforts over that span when factoring in Saturday's production, and some of the other components of his fantasy-friendly line include six RBI, five walks and one steal. Kemp's season average still sits at a lackluster .222, but thanks to his recent surge, that's actually the highest it's been since June 27.
Aug 19 2022Kemp isn't starting Friday against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp went 0-for-3 with a walk during Thursday's loss to the Rangers and will be out of the lineup for the second time in the last three games since left-hander Marco Gonzales is on the mound for the Mariners. Chad Pinder is starting in left field and batting cleanup.
Aug 17 2022Kemp isn't starting Wednesday against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp has started exclusively against right-handed pitchers recently and will get a breather with southpaw Cole Ragans on the mound Wednesday. Chad Pinder will start in left field and bat cleanup.
Aug 16 2022Kemp went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in a loss to the Rangers on Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp extended his on-base streak to nine straight starts with Monday's production. The veteran's steal was also a long time coming -- he'd last pulled off a successful pilfer July 1 -- and he's now just two swipes away from tying the career-high nine he recorded in 2018.
Aug 15 2022Kemp went 2-for-4 with an RBI single and a walk in a loss to the Astros on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran gave the Athletics a glimmer of hope in the ninth inning when his timely knock plated Cal Stevenson, but that would be the final run of the game for the Athletics. Kemp's multi-hit effort was his third in the last four games, and he's now reached safely in eight consecutive starts, a stretch during which he owns a .300 average and .400 on-base percentage.
Aug 10 2022Kemp went 2-for-4 with two doubles, a walk and three RBI Wednesday against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp was one of the few sources of offense for the Athletics Wednesday, as he came to the plate with the bases loaded in the seventh inning and managed a bases-clearing double. Since the All-Star break, Kemp has hit .283 with 11 RBI and five runs scored across 52 plate appearances. He should remain a regular in Oakland's lineup against right-handed pitching, but he has just a 77 wRC+ and .269 wOBA in 101 games for the season.
Aug 6 2022Kemp won't start Saturday's game against the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp's off day here against Carlos Rodon means he's now been on the bench against the last seven lefties the Athletics have faced. Chad Pinder will get the nod in left field.
Jul 28 2022Kemp went 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI in a 4-2 win over the Astros on Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp's RBI double in the fifth inning cashed in the Athletics' third run of the game and helped his team become the first to sweep the Astros in 2022. The three-hit game from the two-hole lifted Kemp's season-long average to .216. His career batting average is .241 and his 2022 BABIP is .243, so it is possible that the veteran's numbers continue to normalize over the remainder of the season.
Jul 26 2022Kemp went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a double, two total runs and three total RBI in Monday's 7-0 victory versus Houston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp put Oakland on the board with his solo shot to right field in the third inning, and he knocked in two more runs with a double in the fourth. This was his second straight contest with a long ball following a 20-game homerless streak between June 26 and July 22. Power has never been a big part of his game, so fantasy managers in need of homers shouldn't seek him out despite the recent results.
Jul 25 2022Kemp entered Sunday's loss to the Rangers as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and went 1-for-2 with a solo home run. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp was originally slated for a day off with southpaw Martin Perez on the hill for the Rangers, but the veteran made good use of his impromptu opportunity by blasting his third homer of the season in the ninth inning. The round tripper was a rare taste of offensive success for Kemp in July, and even factoring in Sunday's production, he still owns an abysmal .128/.196/.234 slash line across 51 plate appearances during the month.
Jul 24 2022Kemp will sit Sunday versus the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp is on the bench for the second game in a row Sunday. Chad Pinder will draw another start in left field and bat fourth in the series finale.
Jul 23 2022Kemp isn't starting Saturday against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp started the last two games and went 1-for-7 with an RBI and a walk. Chad Pinder will take his place in left field and bat fifth.
Jul 21 2022Kemp is out of the lineup for the first game of Thursday's doubleheader with the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Detroit is bringing a left-hander (Tarik Skubal) to the hill for the early game, so the lefty-hitting Kemp's absence from the lineup doesn't come as a major surprise. The righty-hitting Chad Pinder will spell Kemp in left field for the matinee.
Jul 16 2022Kemp will sit Saturday against the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp's day off against Justin Verlander marks the first time he's sat against a righty since May 8. He's gone quite cold at the plate recently, slashing .100/.156/.167 over his last 10 games. Seth Brown will get the start in left field in his absence.
Jul 12 2022Kemp went 1-for-4 with a double in a loss to the Rangers on Monday, snapping an 0-for-21 skid. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran found himself bumped down all the way to No. 8 in the order, but his two-bagger off Garrett Richards gave him a momentary respite from a forgettable stretch at the plate. After his average and on-base percentage most recently peaked at .244 and .326, respectively, May 31, Kemp has hit just .150 with six extra-base hits (five doubles, one home run) over his subsequent 33 games.
Jul 9 2022Kemp isn't in the lineup Saturday against the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp has gone 0-for-14 with a run, a walk and two strikeouts over his last five games and will retreat to the bench for the third time in the last six matchups. Chad Pinder is starting in left field and batting fifth.
Jul 5 2022Kemp is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp has just nine hits in 50 at-bats against lefties this season, so he will take a seat with left-hander Yusei Kikuchi starting for Toronto. Chad Pinder will take Kemp's place in left field.
Jul 3 2022Kemp is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With southpaw Robbie Ray on the mound for Seattle, the lefty-hitting Kemp will retreat to the bench for the series finale. Chad Pinder will replace Kemp in left field and will bat sixth.
Jul 1 2022Kemp went 1-for-3 with an RBI, a stolen base, a run scored and a hit-by-pitch in Friday's 3-1 win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp has hit safely in each of the last two games since snapping an 0-for-14 skid. He was involved in the Athletics' first two runs Friday, scoring the first and knocking in the second with a single. The 30-year-old is up to a .220/.301/.280 slash line with six steals, two home runs, 13 RBI, 26 runs scored and nine doubles through 282 plate appearances. Between second base and left field, Kemp should continue to draw fairly steady playing time.
Jun 28 2022Kemp is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With lefty JP Sears taking the hill for New York, the lefty-hitting Kemp will take a seat as Oakland stocks up on extra right-handed bats. Chad Pinder will replace Kemp in left field, while second baseman Nick Allen takes over as Oakland's leadoff hitter.
Jun 26 2022Kemp went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a homer, two RBI and three runs scored in Saturday's win over Kansas City. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp had an excellent day at the plate, scoring on a Seth Brown single in the first and again when Brown grounded out to short in the third. Kemp tagged home once more on a two-run blast in the eighth that put the Royals up 8-4. It was his first home run since May 9. Until Friday, Kemp had been on a cold streak, going hitless in six straight games. He now has four total hits in his last two games and raised his batting average to .231.
Jun 25 2022Kemp went 1-for-3 with a stolen base and a run in a loss to the Royals on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran was one of the few Oakland hitters to show a pulse at the plate. Kemp's steal was his fifth of the season, and he'd been hitless in his previous 16 plate appearances coming into Friday's game.
Jun 23 2022Kemp isn't starting Thursday's game against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp has started mainly against right-handed pitchers this season, and he'll get a breather with southpaw Robbie Ray on the mound for Seattle on Thursday. Jonah Bride is shifting to second base while Sheldon Neuse starts at the hot corner.
Jun 21 2022Kemp will sit Tuesday against lefty Marco Gonzales and the Mariners, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp has been in the lineup against just one of the last nine lefties the Athletics have faced. Sheldon Neuse starts at second base in Kemp's absence.
Jun 17 2022Kemp isn't starting Friday's game against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp will be out of the lineup for a second consecutive game since left-hander Daniel Lynch is on the mound for the Royals on Friday. Jonah Bride is shifting to the keystone while Matt Davidson starts at third base.
Jun 16 2022Kemp is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Red Sox, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With the Red Sox and Athletics playing a day game after a night game along with Boston bringing a southpaw (Rich Hill) to the mound, the lefty-hitting Kemp will take a seat for the first time since June 5. Jonah Bride replaces Kemp at second base, while left fielder Chad Pinder takes over as Oakland's leadoff hitter.
Jun 12 2022Kemp went 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's victory over the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp scored early on a Christian Bethancourt single, then found his way home later on a Seth Brown homer. Kemp also accounted for an RBI thanks to a throwing error in the seventh inning. The second baseman has struggled to get things going in June as Saturday's game was his first multi-hit game this month and just his fifth game this month with a hit.
Jun 10 2022Kemp went 1-for-3 with a double and two walks in a loss to the Guardians on Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp worked out of the leadoff spot and enjoyed another busy night, reaching safely for the fourth time in the last five games. The veteran has picked up the pace a bit at the plate over the last week-plus, putting together a .351 on-base percentage over the last nine games.
Jun 6 2022Kemp entered Sunday's loss to the Red Sox as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning and finished the game at second base, going 1-for-1 with a walk. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran hit safely for the fourth time in six games in his cameo appearance Sunday. Kemp's season slash line sits at an unsightly .238/.320/.285, but he's trending in the right direction with a .353 average and .436 on-base percentage over the 39 plate appearances he's logged in the last 11 games.
Jun 5 2022Kemp is not in Sunday's lineup against the Red Sox, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp heads to the bench against lefty Rich Hill. Sheldon Neuse starts at second base while Seth Brown gets the start at first base.
Jun 1 2022Kemp went 2-for-4 with a double and a walk in a loss to the Astros on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran leadoff man continued to wield a red-hot bat with a second consecutive two-hit tally and his fourth multi-hit effort in the last seven games overall. Kemp has gone 10-for-22 over the entirety of that span to quickly raise his season average 34 points to .244, although it bears noting Tuesday's two-bagger serves as his only extra-base hit in the otherwise product sample.
May 30 2022Kemp will sit Monday against Houston, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp had more than a platoon role earlier in the season, but his off day here against Framber Valdez means he's now been on the bench against the last four lefties the Athletics have faced. Sheldon Neuse starts at second base.
May 28 2022Kemp isn't starting Saturday against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp went just 1-for-4 with a run and two strikeouts Friday, and he'll be out of the lineup for the third time in the last four games. Sheldon Neuse will start at second base while Chad Pinder takes over in left field.
May 26 2022Kemp is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rangers, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp has a .303 average over his past nine games and will take a seat Thursday with southpaw Martin Perez on the mound for Texas. Sheldon Neuse will shift to the keystone while Christian Bethancourt starts at first base.
May 25 2022Kemp is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With southpaw Robbie Ray on the hill for Seattle, the lefty-hitting Kemp will take a seat for the series finale after going 3-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base and three runs out of the leadoff spot in Tuesday's win. Sheldon Neuse will spell Kemp at the keystone in Wednesday's matinee.
May 24 2022Kemp went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI singles in a loss to the Mariners on Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp drove in runs in the fourth and sixth innings, his seventh and eighth RBI of the season. Although his season slash line still sits at an underwhelming .218/.296/.268, Kemp has now reached safely in eight straight games.
May 22 2022Kemp is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With southpaw Patrick Sandoval on the bump for the Angels, the lefty-hitting Kemp will get a day off while Sheldon Neuse picks up a start at the keystone. Kemp had started in each of Oakland's last 18 games, leading off 15 times during that stretch while slashing .180/.257/.262.
May 13 2022Kemp went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run in a win over the Tigers on Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran leadoff man has now reached safely in six straight games, and with three steals through 31 contests, he's on pace to exceed the career-high nine he posted with the Astros in 2018. However, with just a .226 average and .583 OPS, Kemp still has a long way to go before satisfying the expectations of fantasy managers who invested based on last season's career-best .279/.382/.418 slash line.
May 10 2022Kemp went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a win over the Tigers on Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp's third-inning blast off Michael Pineda was the veteran's first homer of the season and opened the scoring on the night. Perhaps the long ball will serve to reignite Kemp's bat, as he entered Monday stuck in a 1-for-19 funk that had encompassed his prior six games and led to a 45-point drop in batting average.
May 8 2022Kemp is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp continued his extended slump in Saturday's 1-0 loss to the Twins, going hitless with two strikeouts in four at-bats. He's now slashing .116/.152/.140 dating back to April 22, and though he appears to have a hold on an everyday role at second base, expect Kemp to sink in the lineup if he returns to the starting nine for Monday's doubleheader with the Tigers. The Athletics reinstated Ramon Laureano (suspension) from the restricted list Sunday, and he could end up displacing Kemp as the team's preferred leadoff man against both right- and left-handed pitching.
May 3 2022Kemp is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rays, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp is 4-for-23 against left-handed pitching this season and will sit Tuesday with Ryan Yarbrough taking the mound for Tampa Bay. Sheldon Neuse will cover the keystone while Jed Lowrie serves as the designated hitter.
Apr 30 2022Kemp went 1-for-2 with an RBI double and two runs in a loss to the Guardians on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran leadoff man made some noise out of the top of the order and scored multiple runs for the second time this season. Kemp has hit safely in three of his last four games and is carrying a solid .262 average and .355 on-base percentage through his first 76 plate appearances.
Apr 19 2022Kemp went 0-for-2 with two walks and a stolen base in a 2-1 win against Baltimore on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp walked in the first and third innings, swiping second following the latter, but wasn't able to contribute any counting stats otherwise. The 30-year-old utility man has been a staple atop Oakland's lineup due to his high walk rate, though he lacks power and is yet to log an extra-base hit this season. Kemp is on pace to surpass a career-high nine steals set in 2018 if he continues at his current rate.
Apr 17 2022Kemp went 2-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Sunday's 4-3 loss to Toronto. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp singled off Alek Manoah to lead off the game and swiped second base in the same inning. He reached base twice more in the loss and recorded his first multi-hit game since April 11. The 30-year-old is now slashing .303/.378/.303 through nine games.
Apr 16 2022Kemp isn't starting Saturday's game against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp led off against a left-hander Thursday against the Rays, but he'll be on the bench Saturday with southpaw Hyun Jin Ryu starting for Toronto. Sheldon Neuse will start at the keystone and bat fifth.
Apr 13 2022Kemp isn't starting Wednesday's game against Tampa Bay. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp drew starts in each of the first five games of the season, and he went 7-for-21 with three runs, two RBI, two walks and a strikeout. Sheldon Neuse will take over at the keystone and bat seventh with lefty Shane McClanahan on the mound.
Apr 12 2022Kemp went 2-for-5 with a run in a win over the Rays on Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran leadoff man helped contribute to the Athletics' offensive barrage with one of four multi-hit efforts on the evening. Kemp has bounced back from a 1-for-8 start over his first two games by going 5-for-10 with two RBI and Monday's run over the subsequent pair of contests.
Apr 10 2022Kemp went 3-for-5 with two RBI in Sunday's 4-1 win over Philadelphia. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp gave Oakland a pair of insurance runs with a ninth-inning single. The 30-year-old has started at second base and hit leadoff in each of the team's first three games.
Mar 26 2022Kemp is hitting .500 (5-for-10) with three doubles, a triple, an RBI, a walk, a stolen base and five runs across his first four Cactus League games. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran signed a one-year deal in November after a career-best season that saw him generate a .279/.382/.418 slash line across 397 plate appearances. Kemp also compiled a career-high 27 extra-base hits, and his scorching hot start in that regard this spring certainly supports the notion he's up to the task of replicating or even exceeding that feat this season. Despite the Athletics' overall rebuilding approach heading into 2022, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports the 30-year-old is set to enjoy an everyday role at second base for the first time in his career.
Nov 29 2021Kemp agreed to a one-year, $2.25 million deal with the A's on Monday, avoiding arbitration, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp had by far the best year of his career in 2021, hitting .279/.382/.418 with eight home runs and eight steals in 131 games. He was worth 2.7 fWAR and split time between second base and left field. Kemp should once again play quite a bit, especially against right-handed pitching, in 2022.
Oct 3 2021Kemp went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI in Sunday's 7-6 loss to the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp hit a solo home run off Jose Urquidy in the third inning, giving Oakland the lead. He went 15-for-32 in his last nine games to finish off the season. The 29-year-old finished with a .279/.382/.418 slash line, including eight long balls, 37 RBI and 54 runs scored in 397 plate appearances.
Oct 2 2021Kemp went 2-for-3 with an RBI ground-rule double, a walk, a stolen base and a run in a win over the Astros on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp continued his torrid stretch at the plate with his fourth multi-hit effort in the last seven games, a stretch during which he's hit .417 (10-for-24) with Friday's double, a home run and four RBI. The veteran's late-season tear now has his slash line sitting at an impressive .270/.378/.404, with all three figures qualifying as new career bests.
Sep 30 2021Kemp went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Logan Gilbert kept the A's off the scoreboard until the sixth inning when Kemp took advantage of a fastball right over the heart of the plate and sent it over the right field wall. It was his first home run since Sept. 3 and his seventh of the year. The 29-year-old typically isn't known for his power but has shown a knack for getting on base at a relatively high rate. That has proven to be true this season, as Kemp is slashing .266/.374/.398 with 25 extra-base hits, 32 RBI, 51 runs scored, seven steals and 51:51 BB:K over 384 plate appearances.
Sep 27 2021Kemp, who went 3-for-4 with an RBI single and a run in a win over the Astros on Sunday, went 5-for-8 overall in his two starts against his old club during the three-game weekend series. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp had been mired in an 0-for-19 slump that covered a seven-game span heading into the weekend set, but he put that behind him in fine fashion against his old team. Kemp owns a solid .267/.378/.394 slash line on the season, and he's already established a new career high in extra-base hits with 24 (15 doubles, three triples, six home runs).
Sep 25 2021Kemp is not in Saturday's lineup against the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He'll head to the bench with lefty Framber Valdez on the hill for Houston. Chad Pinder will start in right field while Mark Canha starts in left.
Sep 23 2021Kemp isn't starting Thursday's game against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp has gone 0-for-12 with two runs and five walks across his last six appearances, but he'll head to the bench for the third time in the last four contests. Mark Canha will shift to left field while Chad Pinder starts in right.
Sep 21 2021Kemp will take a seat versus the Mariners on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 29-year-old sits for the second consecutive contest. He had secured at least one hit in eight of 11 games to open the month before going hitless in his last four contests. Mark Canha will shift over to left field and Chad Pinder will start in right field and bat sixth.
Sep 20 2021Kemp is not in the lineup Monday against the Mariners, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp is 3-for-16 with seven walks in his past six games and will take a seat for the second time in the past three days. Josh Harrison will work at the keystone while Chad Pinder starts in the outfield Monday.
Sep 18 2021Kemp is not in the lineup Saturday against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp started the past five games and will take a seat after going 3-for-13 with six walks, an RBI, five runs and a stolen base. Josh Harrison starts at second base while Chad Pinder starts in the outfield against Angels southpaw Jose Suarez.
Sep 16 2021Kemp went 2-for-5 with an RBI, a stolen base and two runs Wednesday in the Athletics' 12-10 win over the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: While starting five of the Athletics' last six contests, Kemp has gone 8-for-20 with a pair of walks, five runs and two RBI to improve his slash line to .269/.374/.406 across 344 plate appearances on the season. He's seen most of his action in left field this month, but Seth Brown's recent return from the COVID-19 injured list has resulted in Kemp picking up more work at the keystone of late. Kemp will start at second base and bat ninth in Thursday's series finale.
Sep 11 2021Kemp is not in Saturday's lineup against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He will head to the bench with lefty Kolby Allard on the hill for Texas. Mark Canha will start in left field while Chad Pinder starts in right.
Sep 10 2021Kemp went 3-for-5 with a double and two runs in a win over the Rangers on Friday and is 4-for-8 overall in his first two contests since returning from a one-game absence due to a wrist injury. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp commemorated his return in Thursday's win over the White Sox by lacing an RBI triple -- his third three-bagger of the campaign -- to open the scoring against Chicago. Factoring in Friday's productive outing, Kemp is now hitting .400 (14-for-35) with two doubles, Thursday's triple, two home runs, seven RBI and five runs across his last 10 games.
Sep 9 2021Kemp (wrist) will bat seventh and play right field Thursday against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp left Tuesday's game with a left wrist injury and didn't participate in Wednesday's contest, but the issue has evidently cleared up. He was swinging a hot bat immediately prior to the injury, hitting .370 with a pair of homers over his last eight games.
Sep 8 2021Kemp was removed from Tuesday's loss to the White Sox due to a left wrist injury, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp started in left field and shifted to second base Tuesday, but he was replaced by a pinch hitter in the bottom of the ninth inning. He went 1-for-3 prior to his departure. The severity of the 29-year-old's injury isn't yet clear.
Sep 4 2021Kemp went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in Friday's 11-10 loss to the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: His two-run shot in the sixth inning chased Alek Manoah from the game. Kemp is on a tear with four multi-hit performances in his last six games, going 9-for-22 (.409) over that stretch with two of his six homers on the year.
Aug 31 2021Kemp is not starting Tuesday against Detroit. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp played hero in Sunday's win over the Yankees, belting a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth inning. He holds a hot bat, logging two hits in each of his last three games, but he will begin the series opener on the bench with lefty Tarik Skubal slated to start for the Tigers. Mark Canha remains in left field as Josh Harrison mans second base Tuesday.
Aug 29 2021Kemp went 2-for-2 with a two-run home run in a 3-1 victory over the Yankees on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp began Sunday's game on the bench and entered for Chad Pinder in the seventh, singling in his first at-bat and connecting on a Chad Green offering in the eighth to put Oakland ahead for good. The utility man has enjoyed a successful weekend series against New York, recording three multi-hit games to go a combined 6-for-8 with a double and home run.
Aug 28 2021Kemp went 2-for-3 while hitting leadoff in a loss to the Yankees on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mark Canha's demotion from the top of the order opened up an opportunity for Kemp to make his 13th appearance in the leadoff spot this season. The veteran has shown some signs of life at the plate recently with a .333 average over his last five games, and his modest 16.5 percent strikeout rate could make him a solid candidate to remain in the role against right-handed pitching the rest of the way.
Aug 22 2021Kemp went 1-for-2 with a double in a loss to the Giants on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp drew the start at the keystone and contributed his first extra-base hit since July 27. The 29-year-old continues to see fairly consistent playing time against right-handed pitching at second base and left field, and Saturday's double brought him within two extra-base hits of the career-high 21 he's laced in two other seasons.
Aug 3 2021Kemp is not starting Tuesday against the Padres and lefty Blake Snell. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp sitting against the southpaw has been a common occurrence this season, but with the club recently acquiring Starling Marte and Josh Harrison, he is all the more unlikely to see time against lefties. That being said, he still figures to see substantial time at second base and occasional time in the outfield against right-handers going forward.
Jul 27 2021Kemp is not in the starting lineup Tuesday against the Padres, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp enters Tuesday will seven hits in his last 19 at-bats, but the versatile 29-year-old will sit against right-hande Chris Paddack to start the series. Jed Lowrie will man the keystone as Mark Canha, Ramon Laureano and Seth Brown start in the outfield from left to right.
Jul 26 2021Kemp is hitting .368 (7-for-19) with a double, an RBI, two walks, a stolen base and three runs over his last eight games. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran's impressive numbers even factor in an 0-for-4 showing Sunday, with Kemp having preceded that clunker by having hit safely in each of the previous six games in which he'd logged a plate appearance. Kemp has raised his season average 13 points to .253 since July 10, and both his .374 on-base percentage and .763 OPS qualify as career highs.
Jul 20 2021Kemp went 1-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base in Monday's 4-1 win over the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp walked his first time up and later reached on a bunt single before stealing his fifth bag of the year. The 29-year-old hit well for the majority of June, but he started to tail off toward the end of the month and is slashing just .120/.286/.160 with six hits, one RBI, two runs scored and a 9:15 BB:K over 18 games since June 25. Kemp may no longer be an everyday player with Mark Canha having come back from the 10-day injured list over the weekend.
Jul 18 2021Kemp is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Two of Kemp, Seth Brown and Stephen Piscotty have typically manned the corner-outfield spots for the Athletics of late, but Mark Canha's return from the injured list will leave only one opening in Oakland's regular outfield moving forward. Kemp and Piscotty will be the odd men out Sunday, as Brown sticks in the lineup in right field as Oakland's No. 9 hitter.
Jul 11 2021Kemp is not starting Sunday's series finale against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hitless in five straight games and seven of the last eight, Kemp takes a seat with lefty Kolby Allard on the mound for Texas. He has hit just .220 in 50 at-bats off left-handed pitching in 2021. Jacob Wilson will play left field and bat eighth Sunday.
Jul 6 2021Kemp is not in the starting lineup Tuesday against the Astros and lefty Framber Valdez, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp's strong month of June helped him get more time against left-handed starters, but he'll take a seat against Valdez to start the series. Chad Pinder, Ramon Laureano and Stephen Piscotty will align the outfield from left to right Tuesday.
Jun 30 2021Kemp is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Rangers, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp started the past four games, including two against lefties, but he'll head to the bench Wednesday after going 1-for-13 during that stretch. Chad Pinder will work in left field against Texas left-hander Kolby Allard.
Jun 26 2021Kemp is the leading candidate to handle leadoff duties against right-handed pitching while Mark Canha (hip) remains on the injured list, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The lefty-swinging Kemp has already been on a surge at the plate, as he extended his on-base streak to 14 games by drawing a walk in Friday's loss to the Giants. He's also been highly successful in his limited opportunities at the top of the order this season, forging a .474 average and .521 wOBA across 26 plate appearances in that split. More frequent deployment in the leadoff role over the short term should certainly spike Kemp's run-scoring opportunities if he continues to get on base at a similar clip.
Jun 24 2021Kemp, who entered Thursday's win over the Rangers as an in-game replacement for Mark Canha (hip), went 1-for-2 with a double and a walk, extending his on-base streak to 13 games. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp also went 2-for-3 in Wednesday's loss to Texas, which at the time marked his second consecutive two-hit effort. The veteran has evolved into one of the Athletics' most consistent offensive performers, posting a well-balanced line of seven doubles, two triples, four home runs, 17 RBI, four steals, 27 walks and 26 runs on his way to career-best .863 OPS across 170 plate appearances.
Jun 22 2021Kemp is not in the starting lineup Tuesday against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The lefty-hitting Kemp has worked his way into the starting nine against some southpaws of late, but he'll sit for the beginning part of Tuesday's contest against lefty Taylor Hearn. Hearn is not expected to work deep into the contest, so Kemp should have a very strong chance of entering the game during the mid-to-late innings. Jed Lowrie will man second base with Mark Canha, Skye Bolt and Chad Pinder manning the outfield spots from left to right.
Jun 20 2021Kemp is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After starting each of the past four games, the lefty-hitting Kemp will take a seat with southpaw Jordan Montgomery on the hill. The Athletics haven't fully committed to giving Kemp a regular role, but his 1.062 OPS thus far in June should continue to afford him plenty of playing time in the short term. Seth Brown, who has posted a .462 OPS since the beginning of the month, appears to be the most likely candidate to lose reps to Kemp against right-handed pitching.
Jun 18 2021Kemp went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Friday's 5-3 win over the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Per Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle, Kemp had homered just once against a left-hander across his first five seasons in the league, but he's now blasted two homers against southpaws since the start of June. The 29-year-old has reached base in each of his last eight games, and he's gone 7-for-26 with a home run, a double, 10 runs, three RBI and seven walks during that time.
Jun 13 2021Kemp is in the starting lineup Sunday against Kansas City, playing second base and batting ninth, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp has received the bulk of his starts against right-handed starters this season, but he'll get the nod against southpaw Kris Bubic on Sunday. Kemp has enjoyed a strong month of June so far, going 10-for-30 with a triple, homer, six RBI and eight runs scored across nine games.
Jun 6 2021Kemp will start at second base and bat second Sunday against the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp will stick in the lineup for the fifth time in six games, with three of his starts coming in left field and two coming at second base. While Ramon Laureano (hip) is on the shelf and the likes of Seth Brown (.704 OPS) and Stephen Piscotty (.655 OPS) aren't lighting the world on fire at the plate, the Athletics could continue to find more steady work for Kemp in the outfield when the team opposes right-handed pitching. Kemp enters Sunday's contest with a seven-game hitting streak, and he's batting .395 across 38 at-bats dating back to May 20.
Jun 1 2021Kemp went 3-for-4 with a home run, double, run, five RBI and a strikeout in a 12-6 triumph over the Mariners on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After recording a third inning strikeout, Kemp followed with a double in the fifth, sac fly in the seventh, two-run home run in the eighth and single in the ninth. This was Kemp's first three-hit game of the year and it brought his average up to .280 from .256.
May 24 2021Kemp went 2-for-4 with a triple and a run in a loss to the Angels on Sunday. He was also caught stealing on his only attempt. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp operated out of the top of the order for the first time this season and generated his second multi-hit effort in the last three contests. The veteran has shown a propensity for hard contact during that small sample, recording a double, Sunday's triple and a solo home run, with the latter two qualifying as his first of the year in those respective categories. While he doesn't possess a true everyday role at present, Kemp's .392 on-base percentage and three steals in four attempts are a big part of what affords him some fantasy value in AL-only formats and deep mixed leagues, and his recent modest flurry of extra-base hits would certainly boost it even further if it persisted over a longer sample.
May 20 2021Kemp went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a double and a walk in Thursday's 8-4 loss to Houston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The second baseman went yard off Houston starter Luis Garcia in the third inning. The homer was Kemp's first of the year. He's added two RBI, seven runs scored and three stolen bases with a mediocre .232 batting average in 28 games. With Jed Lowrie struggling at the plate, playing time could be up for grabs at the keystone for Kemp.
May 11 2021Kemp is hitting .250 (4-for-16) with a double, an RBI, two walks and four runs over seven May games. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp has reached safely in four of the five starts he's drawn during that span, and he's sporting an impressive .368 on-base percentage for the season thanks in large part to a 17.2 percent walk rate. However, Kemp's season-plus long-ball drought continues, contributing to an abysmal .261 slugging percentage. The 29-year-old has exclusively operated out of the bottom third of the order, making nearly as many appearances in left field (10) as at second base (11).
May 2 2021Kemp is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp had started in each of Oakland's last four games, going 3-for-12 with a double, two walks and a stolen base. He had benefited indirectly from Matt Olson (eye) missing three of those games, but Kemp will likely find himself on the bench on a more regular basis with Olson checking back into the lineup for Sunday's series finale.
Apr 16 2021Kemp went 1-for-3 with two walks and a run in a win over the Tigers on Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp, who manned left field, made his first start since April 8, while the hot-hitting Jed Lowrie handled second base. Kemp has been assigned keystone duties in just three games thus far, making the remainder of his five appearances in left field. The 29-year-old's .118 average over 24 plate appearances speaks to his considerable struggles when putting the ball in play, but his .348 on-base percentage, built largely on the strength of six walks, has been encouraging.
Apr 9 2021Kemp drew two walks in three plate appearances during Thursday's loss to the Astros before being pinch hit for in the ninth inning. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp has only one hit his first 17 plate appearance, but he's reached base safely on four other occasions courtesy of free passes. The 29-year-old appeared to be making strides at the plate as spring wound down, but Jed Lowrie, who delivered a pinch-hit single after replacing Kemp on Thursday, has been the more productive of the two early in the regular season.
Apr 4 2021Kemp is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp has started only one of the Athletics' first four games, as he appears to have fallen behind Jed Lowrie on the depth chart. Lowrie's lengthy injury history means that he probably can't be trusted to stay on the field for the entirety of the 2021 season, so Kemp should see playing time open up at some point down the road.
Mar 27 2021Kemp is 4-for-8 with two doubles, a walk and two runs in his last three spring starts. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The versatile veteran's ability to fill in at both second base and the outfield helps his cause from a defensive standpoint, but it certainly doesn't hurt Kemp that he's picked it up at the plate in recent games after seeing his spring average dip as low as .190 at one point. Looking ahead to the regular season, the 29-year-old still projects to see time at the keystone in tandem with Jed Lowrie, who Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports has made the Opening Day roster.
Mar 15 2021Kemp (hip) will start in left field and will bat seventh in Monday's Cactus League game against Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp checks back into the starting nine for the first time since exiting last Thursday's game against the Rangers after he was hit in the hip by a pitch. He appeared as a reserve second baseman in Sunday's loss to the White Sox, and after experiencing no setbacks with his hip, Kemp will presumably play a few more innings Monday.
Mar 11 2021Kemp (hip) won't play in Friday's spring game against the Padres, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp left Thursday's spring game against Texas in the bottom of the second inning after he was hit by the first pitch of the contest. Manager Bob Melvin said that Kemp's hip tightened up after being hit by the pitch, although he was hopeful that he'll be able to play Saturday after sitting out against San Diego on Friday.
Mar 6 2021Kemp, who went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and a walk in a Cactus League tie with the Mariners on Saturday, is now hitting .429 (3-for-7) over his first four spring games. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp has a nice three-game hitting streak going that also includes a double, three walks and a stolen base in addition to Saturday's solo shot. The 29-year-old never left the yard in 114 plate appearances last season, but he'd slugged a combined 14 homers over the previous two seasons while logging part-time duty with the Cubs and Astros. Kemp is likely to operate in a platoon with Chad Pinder and/or Jed Lowrie (knee) at second base during the 2021 season, but Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports the veteran is also candidate to see some time in the outfield against right-handed pitchers.
Feb 23 2021Kemp is likely to primarily operate in a platoon role at second base again in 2020, potentially in tandem with returning veteran Jed Lowrie (knee), Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp was deployed in such an arrangement with the since-departed Tommy La Stella last season, logging 43 games at the keystone. The light-hitting veteran is a career .988 fielder at second base and has just 15 career home runs in 862 plate appearances, but he brings a solid speed component to the Athletics lineup and is a highly reliable contact hitter that can also be utilized in the outfield.
Dec 1 2020Kemp signed a one-year, $1.05 million contract with the Athletics on Tuesday to avoid arbitration, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 29-year-old was acquired by Oakland during last offseason and had a .247/.363/.301 slash line with five doubles and three stolen bases in 49 games (114 plate appearances) during the shortened season. Kemp unsurprisingly saw most of his time at second base, though he also played some left field and served as the designated hitter. Barring any outside additions, he could enter spring training as the favorite to start at second base on the strong side of a platoon.
Sep 16 2020Kemp will start at second base and will bat ninth Wednesday against the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp finds himself in the starting nine for the fourth time in five games, as Tommy La Stella has been seeing more work at third base of late to leave the keystone open. However, if Stephen Piscotty (knee) is able to reclaim his usual spot in right field for this weekend's series with the Giants, Kemp would likely be bumped out of the regular lineup versus right-handed pitching. The 28-year-old still looks like a better fit in AL-only leagues rather than mixed leagues.
Sep 12 2020Kemp has started four of 11 games since the A's acquired Tommy La Stella at the trade deadline. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He is 3-for-9 with a double, a walk and a strikeout over that stretch, so he is playing his new role well, but the days of Kemp working on the strong side of a platoon are over. Look for him to continue to operate in a bench role going forward.
Aug 26 2020Kemp isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp will take a seat with southpaw Kolby Allard on the mound for the Rangers on Wednesday. Franklin Barreto is starting at second base in his absence.
Aug 25 2020Kemp went 1-for-2 with three runs scored and a walk in Tuesday's 10-3 win over the Rangers. He was also hit by a pitch. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp scored all three times he got on base, making a noticeable contribution to the Athletics' big win. He's hit safely in four straight games, going 4-for-14 (2.86) in that span. The second baseman is slashing .250/.384/.283 with one RBI, 11 runs scored and two stolen bases across 74 plate appearances.
Aug 21 2020Kemp will sit for the second straight day against southpaw Andrew Heaney and the Angels on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp had started eight straight games against eight straight righties before heading to the bench against a pair of southpaws. Chad Pinder gets the nod at second base in his absence.
Aug 20 2020Kemp isn't starting Thursday against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp went hitless with one walk and two strikeouts over his last 10 at-bats, and he'll take a breather for the series finale against Arizona. Chad Pinder will start at second base Thursday, batting eighth.
Aug 16 2020Kemp will start at second base and bat second Sunday against the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After batting out of the eighth or ninth spot in the lineup in his first 10 starts of the season, Kemp will slot into the two hole for the third game in a row while Ramon Laureano serves a suspension. Kemp came up big in Saturday's 7-6 win with three hits and a walk in five plate appearances, but he'll likely move back near the bottom of the lineup when Laureano is reinstated from his suspension ahead of Tuesday's game in Arizona.
Aug 14 2020Kemp is a candidate to fill the No. 2 spot in the order during Ramon Laureano's four-game suspension, which begins Friday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran infielder has seen action in 13 of the Athletics' first 17 games, slashing .259/.429/.259 across 36 plate appearances. Kemp has yet to hit any higher than eighth in his 10 starts during that span, but his 22.2 percent walk rate and speed make him a candidate for a spot near the top of the order against right-handed pitching.
Aug 10 2020Kemp isn't starting Monday's game against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp will sit for the third time in the past five games after going 0-for-3 with a run, one walk and two strikeouts Sunday. Chad Pinder will start at second base and bat eighth.
Aug 8 2020Kemp isn't in the lineup Saturday against the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp reached base four times in Friday's extra-inning win against the Astros, but he'll be on the bench for the second time in the past three games. Chad Pinder will get the nod at second base, batting sixth.
Aug 6 2020Kemp is not in Thursday's lineup against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With southpaw Mike Minor on the hill for Texas, Kemp will head to the bench in favor of righty-hitting Chad Pinder. Kemp is 5-for-10 with three runs, two walks, two strikeouts and one steal in five games this month.
Aug 4 2020Kemp went 2-for-3 with a stolen base in Tuesday's 5-1 win over the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp led off the sixth inning with a single and then stole second, but he couldn't get home. The 28-year-old has two steals and four runs scored across 17 plate appearances this year. Expect Kemp to continue battling with Chad Pinder for playing time at second base.
Aug 3 2020Kemp is not in the lineup Monday against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp doesn't appear to have the starting job at second base in Oakland, but it's not clear that anyone else does, either. Kemp has started four times in the first 10 games, while Chad Pinder, who starts Monday, has gotten the nod five times. Vimael Machin has started once.
Aug 1 2020Kemp is not in the lineup for Saturday's game at Seattle. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp is 0-for-7 with two runs, a stolen base and two walks through nine plate appearances, and he'll hit the bench with southpaw Yusei Kikuchi on the mound for the Mariners. Chad Pinder will receive the start at second base for the A's.
Jul 29 2020Kemp will remain on the bench Wednesday against the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp doesn't appear to have the platoon role at second base that he was thought to have prior to the season. He's started against just two of the five righties the Athletics have faced thus far, with Chad Pinder starting against two and Vimael Machin, who starts Wednesday, getting the nod once.
Jul 28 2020Kemp will sit Tuesday against Colorado. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Athletics' playing-time split at second base reminds difficult to parse. Chad Pinder started the first two games, once against a righty and once against a lefty. Kemp then started against a pair of righties, but he's back on the bench in favor of Pinder with another righty (Antonio Senzatela) starting for the Rockies.
Jul 27 2020Kemp will bat ninth and play second base Monday against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp entered the season as part of a presumed platoon with Franklin Barreto at second base, though it was Chad Pinder who started at the position against both a lefty and a righty in the first two games of the year. Kemp has now gotten the nod against two straight righties, so it's possible he's in for a significant role this season after all. It will likely take a few more games before the true playing-time split at the position becomes clear.
Jul 25 2020Kemp remains on the bench for the second game of the season Saturday against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Preseason reports suggested that Kemp would be platooning with Franklin Barreto at second base, but it's been Chad Pinder who got the nod in both of the first two games of the year. Pinder started against lefty Andrew Heaney on Opening Day and remains in the lineup against righty Dylan Bundy on Saturday, which suggests both Kemp and Barreto could be nothing more than bench options this season.
Jul 24 2020Kemp isn't in the lineup for Friday's game against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp is expected to be in a platoon at second base this season, and he'll sit for the season opener against left-hander Andrew Heaney. Chad Pinder is starting at second base, batting sixth. With the Athletics expected to face righty Dylan Bundy on Saturday, Kemp should be in the starting nine.
Jul 12 2020Kemp remains slated to form a platoon at second base with Franklin Barreto this coming season, with the plan remaining unchanged over the three-month-plus shutdown, Shayna Rubin of The Mercury News reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The left-handed hitting Kemp thus remains in line to draw some starts against right-handed pitchers, although it's also worth noting he's been serviceable (.257 average across 123 plate appearances) in same-handed matchups across the last two seasons. Kemp comes nowhere close to matching Barreto's significant power potential, but he's proven a markedly better contact hitter over his professional career and should still see a fair share of playing time.
Mar 30 2020Kemp, who hit .345 (10-for-29) over 10 Cactus League games before spring training was suspended, appears to have secured a platoon role at second base alongside Franklin Barreto to open the 2020 season, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp entered camp with good odds of securing that exact role, and his performance in Cactus League action served to definitively strengthen his job prospects. The 28-year-old forged a versatile stat line during exhibition play, recording a double, a home run, two RBI, four walks, a stolen base and seven runs. The left-handed hitting Kemp is slated to see time versus right-handed pitching, against which he slugged seven of his eight home runs last season and 13 of his 14 overall in the last three campaigns.
Mar 1 2020Kemp, who went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs in a Cactus League win over the Indians on Sunday, is now hitting .444 across 21 spring plate appearances. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp has been swinging a red-hot bat since the exhibition slate began, complementing his ability to fill in all over the outfield and at second base with impressive offensive contributions. The 28-year-old has toiled for the Astros and Cubs over his four major-league seasons, and he could certainly carve out an Opening Day spot if he demonstrates he can keep up his strong work at the plate during the balance of the spring.
Jan 13 2020Kemp was traded from the Cubs to the Athletics for minor-leaguer Alfonso Rivas on Monday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kemp filled a bench role for the Astros and Cubs last season but didn't do much at the plate, hitting .212/.291/.380 in 279 plate appearances. With the ability to play second base and all three outfield positions, Kemp should be a useful bench piece for the always-creative Athletics this season, but he's unlikely to play enough to be much of a fantasy asset or to hit well enough if he does get unexpected time.
Sep 29 2019Kemp is starting in right field and batting first in Sunday's game against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With the Cubs eliminated from playoff contention and resting some regular players the past few games, Kemp has gotten an opportunity to play more often. For the season, the 27-year-old utility player is slashing .216/.296/.386 with a career high eight home runs in 109 games split between Chicago and Houston.
Sep 21 2019Kemp went 1-for-1 with a pinch-hit two-run homer in Saturday's 9-8 loss to the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The home run was his eighth of the season -- and first in the National League -- as he connected in the seventh inning off Giovanny Gallegos to put the Cubs in front 8-7. The 27-year-old was hitting just .172 since he was acquired by the Cubs on July 31. Kemp's overall .215/.291/386 slash line isn't impressive, but his eight home runs represent a career high.
Aug 24 2019Kemp is starting at second base and batting eighth Saturday against the Nationals.
Jul 31 2019Kemp was traded from the Astros to the Cubs on Wednesday in exchange for Martin Maldonado, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Jul 26 2019Kemp was designated for assignment by the Astros on Friday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 25 2019Kemp will be designated for assignment by the Astros on Friday, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 20 2019Kemp went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Rangers.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 20 2019Kemp started in left field and went 0-for-3 win a 4-3 win over the Rangers on Friday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 8 2019Kemp went 1-for-1 with a two-run home run, a walk and a hit-by-pitch in Sunday's 11-10 win over the Angels.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 8 2019Kemp went 1-for-1 with a two-run home run, a walk and was hit by a pitch in Sunday's 11-10 win over the Angels.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 28 2019Kemp entered Thursday's game after left fielder Yordan Alvarez was removed because of a knee injury. He went 1-for-3 in a 10-0 loss to the Pirates.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 28 2019Kemp entered Thursday's game after left fielder Yordan Alvarez was removed due to a knee injury, going 1-for-3 in a 10-0 loss to the Pirates.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 19 2019Kemp is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Reds, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 18 2019Kemp went 0-for-4 in Monday's 3-2 loss to the Reds.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 18 2019Kemp went 0-for-4 in Monday's 3-2 loss to the Cincinnati.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 16 2019Kemp was not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Blue Jays.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 7 2019Kemp with 1-for-4 with a two-run home run Friday against Baltimore.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 5 2019Kemp went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and scored twice overall in Tuesday's victory over Seattle.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 5 2019Kemp went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and scored twice in Tuesday's victory over Seattle.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 1 2019Kemp went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI in Friday's 3-2 win over the Athletics.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 30 2019Kemp started at second base for a second straight game, going 0-for-2 and getting hit by a pitch in Wednesday's 2-1 loss to the Cubs.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 29 2019Kemp started at second base and went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Tuesday's 9-6 win over the Cubs.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 27 2019Kemp played two innings at second base Sunday after Aledmys Diaz departed with a hamstring injury. Kemp walked in his lone plate appearance.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 26 2019Kemp is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 22 2019Kemp started in left field and went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and a run scored in Tuesday's 5-1 win over the White Sox.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 20 2019Kemp entered Sunday's game after George Springer left with back stiffness and went 0-for-2 in a 4-3 loss to Boston.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 18 2019Kemp entered Friday's game at second base after Aldemys Diaz was removed with a hamstring injury.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 13 2019Kemp started in left field and went 3-for-5 with a triple, an RBI and three runs scored in Sunday's 15-5 win over the Rangers.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 12 2018Kemp went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run and a steal in Thursday's loss to the A's.It was one of Kemp's best games of the season as he contributed with his bat and on the basepaths with his seventh steal in as many tries. He continues to produce when given the opportunity and is slashing a solid .297/.392/.432, but the Astros' crowded outfield rotation makes it tough for him to secure regular playing time.
Jul 8 2018Kemp went 1-for-2 with a walk and two stolen bases Sunday against the White Sox.Kemp swiped both of his bases against Lucas Giolito, bringing his season total to six. He has had a busy weekend on the basepaths, as he has three stolen bases across his past two games. With Derek Fisher getting the call, Kemp will lose playing time, though his versatility may help him find at-bats from time to time.
Jul 4 2018Kemp started in left field and went 1-for-2 with a walk and a two-run home run in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Rangers.Kemp's role with the Astros had been on decline, but the injury to shortstop Carlos Correa, who was placed on the disabled list with a back injury, triggers a roster shuffle that opens up at-bats for Kemp. Marwin Gonzalez has been starting for Correa, leaving an outfield spot for Kemp or Jake Marisnick.
Jun 17 2018Kemp is out of the lineup Sunday against the Royals, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.Kemp has seen his opportunities take a hit since Josh Reddick was reinstated from the disabled list earlier this month. Though his ability to play all over the outfield has helped him pick up three starts in the past six games, Kemp may be hard pressed to cut further into the workloads of Reddick and Marwin Gonzalez, both of whom have produced well during the Astros' ongoing 10-game winning streak. The lack of consistent at-bats likely limits Kemp's relevance to AL-only formats, even though he has been a dependable contributor in deeper mixed leagues thus far with a .316 average and three stolen bases over 89 plate appearances.
Jun 10 2018Kemp will start in left field and bat ninth Sunday against the Rangers.Kemp seemed likely to shift to a reserve role following Josh Reddick's (lower leg) reinstatement from the disabled list Wednesday, but the side injury to shortstop Carlos Correa has unexpectedly allowed Kemp to stick in the lineup for the fifth consecutive game. It still appears Kemp's days as an everyday player may be numbered, though. According to Hunter Atkins of the Houston Chronicle, manager A.J. Hinch said Correa is expected to play Tuesday in Oakland, which will presumably result in Marwin Gonzalez shifting back to left field and bumping Kemp to the bench.
Jun 3 2018Kemp will start in center field and bat ninth Sunday against the Red Sox.Kemp hit the bench for the Astros' past two games with the Red Sox bringing a pair of lefty starters to the hill. With Rick Porcello on the mound for Boston in the series finale, Kemp will reenter the starting nine and look to break out of his funk at the dish. Kemp has recorded just two hits in 14 at-bats over his last five contests.
May 28 2018Kemp is not in Monday's starting lineup.This will be the first time Kemp has taken a seat since his call-up from the minors 10 games ago. Marwin Gonzalez will start in left field.
May 27 2018Kemp went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 8-6 loss to Cleveland.Kemp's sixth-inning homer answered a two-spot the Indians put up a half-inning earlier and kept the Astros in striking distance. The 26-year-old has reached base in eight of the nine games played since his call-up. He's hitting .375 with a .448 on-base percentage and hasn't given manager A.J. Hinch any pause putting his name in the starting lineup daily, as can be the case with fellow outfielders Marwin Gonzalez (.217) or Jake Marisnick (.167).
May 25 2018Kemp started in left field and went 1-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base in Thursday's 8-2 win over the Indians.Kemp has started seven straight games since being called up from Triple-A Fresno and is hitting .389 (7-for-18) with two runs, six RBI and two steals during that run. Manager A.J. Hinch spoke to Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle about his need to juggle a crowded outfield, but he's been giving Kemp regular duty while finding spots for Jake Marisnick, Marwin Gonzalez and, to a lesser extent, J.D. Davis when match-ups are beneficial.
May 23 2018Kemp went 2-for-2 with five RBI in Tuesday's win over the Giants.Kemp got a two-run single in the fourth, a sacrifice fly in the sixth and another two-run single in the seventh. Kemp is making the most of his current playing time, going 6-for-14 in five games. It figures that Josh Reddick will be slotted back into the lineup soon, knocking Kemp back to the bench, but things could be made interesting should Reddick continue to struggle while Kemp performs well.
May 21 2018Kemp went 1-for-2 with a walk in Sunday's 3-1 win over Cleveland.Kemp made his fourth consecutive start since being called from Triple-A Fresno and could be in line for more. The Astros placed Derek Fisher (gastrointestinal discomfort) on the disabled list, leaving the team with four healthy outfielders, including the super-utility player Marwin Gonzalez who often gets starts in the infield and as designated hitter. Kemp has gone 4-for-12 with an RBI and a stolen base over his four starts.
May 19 2018Kemp went 2-for-3 with a double, a stolen base and an RBI in Friday's 4-1 win over the Indians.Kemp delivered in the key moment of the game, with two men on in the bottom of the seventh inning of a 1-1 game, lacing a ground-rule double that plated the go-ahead run. It was the Astros' lone hit with men in scoring position (1-for-10) and the type of competitive at-bat the Astros had been lacking out of their nine-hole hitters this season -- that spot produced 75 strikeouts and a .188 batting average entering the game. The lack of production at the bottom of the lineup warranted Kemp's call-up, Houston's first performance-based transaction of the season, and he produced immediately. Aside from George Springer, no Astro outfielder has done enough to be a lineup staple -- not Josh Reddick (.228), not Marwin Gonzalez (.221), not Derek Fisher (.176). There's an opening for Kemp to get regular at-bats.
May 16 2018Kemp was called up from Triple-A Fresno on Wednesday, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.Kemp will take the roster spot of Jake Marisnick, who was sent down to the minors following Tuesday's game. During 38 games with Fresno this season, Kemp hit .335/.407/.435 with 19 RBI and 13 stolen bases. The 26-year-old will serve as an extra outfielder for the Astros moving forward.
Mar 23 2018Kemp is still in the mix for a roster spot, battling with Derek Fisher in the outfield, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. "He's battling Fisher for the spot in the outfield that most people coming into camp thought Fish was the leading candidate, if not the guy to do it. We'll see how that plays out over the weekend," said manager A.J. Hinch.Fisher had a positive impact while up with the Astros in 2017 and was considered a favorite to break camp with Houston, if not a lock. However, Hinch emphasized he's not looking at box scores to make a decision, but rather at quality of at-bats. To that point, Fisher has struck out 17 times in 42 at-bats while Kemp has whiffed four times in 52 at-bats.
Mar 7 2018Kemp went 0-for-2 in Wednesday's game against the Marlins and is hitting .148 (4-for-27) through 11 spring games.Kemp, normally an infielder, got the start in left field as the Astros are trying to get him comfortable to the outfield. Yulieski Gurriel's hand injury has created an opportunity for several of Houston's Triple-A crowd. Along with Kemp, that includes Derek Fisher, Tyler White, Colin Moran, A.J. Reed and J.D. Davis. The winner of this battle will have a small role and is expected to have a short stay with Houston. Gurriel is due back from the injury mid-April and then will have to serve a five-game suspension.
Sep 3 2017Kemp started the first game of Saturday's doubleheader and went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI in a 12-8 win over the Mets.Kemp was called up from Triple-A Fresno when rosters expanded and put to work immediately. With Carlos Beltran (foot) unavailable to play, manager A.J. Hinch utilized the DH spot to give his plethora of outfielders at-bats through both games of the twin bill. When all hands are on deck, Kemp is not expected to play much more than two games per week.