Dodgers’ Matt Kemp is expected back May 29

SAN DIEGO — Matt Kemp is expected to be ready to play again when he is eligible to be activated from the 15-day disabled list May 29, according to trainer Sue Falsone.

“That is our goal,” Falsone said.

Kemp was placed on the disabled list Monday with a strained left hamstring.

The next day, Kemp received an injection of platelet rich plasma. He had blood drawn and spun to isolate the platelets, which clot and promote healing. The platelets were injected into the site of the injury.

Kemp traveled with the Dodgers to San Diego and is scheduled hit off a tee Thursday.

Manager Don Mattingly said he would like Kemp to play in a minor league game before he returns. Falsone agreed.

“I think that’s the smart thing to do,” Falsone said. “You can’t mimic competition.”

Tee work for Dee

With the current and previous hitting coaches standing nearby, slumping shortstop Dee Gordon hit balls off a tee as his teammates emerged from the dugout for their pregame stretching session.

What was unusual about the drill was that Mattingly and hitting coach Dave Hansen had Gordon perform it outdoors instead of in the underground batting cages at Petco Park.

“You see the ball travel,” Mattingly said. “It helps you find your contact points. He knows when he’s hit it good or not. He’s getting instant feedback. In the cage, sometimes, it hits the net so quick … you don’t quite know where you’re hitting the ball.”

Gordon is batting .212, including .156 against left-handers.

With the Dodgers facing a left-hander in Clayton Richard, the left-handed-hitting Gordon was out of the lineup. Justin Sellers started at shortstop in Gordon’s place.

Guerra back to form?

Former closer Javy Guerra has entered the Dodgers’ last two games with the bases loaded, with no outs Tuesday and with one out Wednesday.

Both times, Guerra limited the damage to one run.

Guerra threw 23 pitches in the two appearances, only seven of them for strikes. But Mattingly is encouraged.

“Javy’s been really good,” Mattingly said. “I’ve kind of used him the last two days like a closer to keep us in the game. He’s given us two chances to win the last two days.”

Guerra walked the first batter he faced in the seventh inning Wednesday to force in a run and increase the Dodgers’ deficit to 4-2. He retired the next two batters, Will Venable and Chase Headley.

“That game could have gotten out of hand, but he comes in, gets us out of the jam, gives us a chance to score,” Mattingly said.

Short hops

Juan Uribe, who is on the disabled list with a sprained wrist, will visit a hand specialist in Los Angeles over the weekend. Uribe underwent an MRI exam Tuesday, but Falsone wouldn’t offer details of what it showed. Falsone said surgery was unlikely at this point, but hasn’t been ruled out. … Sidelined reliever Matt Guerrier had a bullpen session and threw breaking balls for the first time since he was placed on the disabled list April 19 with an elbow injury.

dylan.hernandez@latimes.com