Matt Kemp finished a round of autographs on Wednesday afternoon and waded through his dugout. A half-dozen pint-sized Dodgers fans gawked as Kemp returned with one of his bats. He asked the kids to rub the lumber for good luck, a sprinkling of witchcraft for his charmed season. He did not need it.
Acquired as an afterthought during the winter, Kemp has been a steady force through a rocky two-month start to the season. He has delivered critical hits as a starter and as a pinch-hitter. In Wednesday’s 8-2 victory over the Phillies, Kemp provided an RBI double in the first inning, a two-run home run in the third and a sacrifice fly in the eighth as Ross Stripling silenced his guests.