Dodgers Beat the Streak: Matt Kemp’s first time back in Atlanta

The Los Angeles Dodgers conclude the team’s 10-game road trip with a four-game series at SunTrust Park against the Atlanta Braves.

Three years ago, Matt Kemp prepared for Opening Day at Dodger Stadium like he had the previous seven seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Except this time, it was different.

Kemp was a member of the San Diego Padres, the team that had traded for him while the Dodgers looked to get his contract off the books. From there, Kemp went from a former MVP finalist down to a bad contract no team wanted to have.

The Kemp experiment did not work in San Diego, so the Padres traded him to the Atlanta Braves, where he spent a year and a half. Injuries held him back, he gained wait and while he was still a decent hitter at the plate, his defense was too bad to risk putting him in the everyday lineup.

Matt Kemp’s career looked like it was going to die in Atlanta. One of the most exciting players to watch in his prime this decade, Kemp had quite the falling from grace in just seven years.

Then the Dodgers reacquired Matt Kemp in what should have just been a salary dump move. Playing back home, Kemp seemed reinvented. He had lost weight, his attitude improved and he showed it on the field.

Fast forward over four months and Kemp is now one of few front-runners for the National League MVP. On Thursday, he returns to the place he almost watched his career die. The place that luckily granted him this second chance back home.

Here is who we think is going to get a hit in Kemp’s return to Atlanta.

Sarah’s pick — Current streak 0: Cody Bellinger

My pick for tonight’s game against the Atlanta Braves is Cody Bellinger. Bellinger hasn’t been the strongest lately, but he has been good for the Dodgers. By that I mean, that through all the injuries this team has faced, Bellinger has been able to roll with the punches.

He’s played first base, as well as the outfield. He’s played whenever, and wherever needed. I think that Bellinger is on the verge of a breakout month, and we could see it start tonight in Atlanta.

Jason’s pick — Current streak 0: Matt Kemp

Who else was I going to pick?

Matt Kemp has hit his other old team pretty well this season and is going to continue that trend with his first game back in Atlanta. I did select Kemp yesterday and he went 0-2, which actually gives me more of a reason to select him today.

Kemp has been so good that the chances of him going hitless in consecutive games is very slim, especially with the storylines at hand.

Thus, I am calling it now, Kemp is going to have a big, four-RBI game in his return to Atlanta to fuel the Dodgers to victory.