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LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp will start a rehab assignment with the Class A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes Tuesday and is on pace to return to the Dodgers' lineup after the All-Star break, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said Monday.
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Kemp will DH on Tuesday and will play regularly before participating in the Home Run Derby during the All-Star break. If he suffers no setbacks he will return to the Dodgers' lineup when they play the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on July 13.
"He's pretty much going to play the rest of the way through the break," Mattingly said. "There will be some designed days in there, kind of easy days. He's DHing tomorrow and then he's playing five innings the next day and then there's another DH day in there. There are days in there designed to keep him playing but to keep him from being on his leg every day."
Kemp has been out since May 30 when he re-aggravated his left hamstring against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Mattingly also said Andre Ethier, who strained his oblique June 27, could return to the lineup as early as this week.
"Andre's good today," Mattingly said. "He's out here doing most everything but he's not going to hit. He feels better today. He's still day to day but I know he feels a lot better. It's more of a decision of not taking any chances. I think he feels like he's really close to being ready."
