Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp is finally getting his chance to play every day, something fantasy owners have pleaded for since the 2006 season. It is no coincidence that the Dodgers are 8-2 since the last time Kemp was held out of the lineup, as he and Andre Ethier are passing veterans Andruw Jones and Juan Pierre on manager Joe Torre’s outfield depth chart.

Kemp was brought along slowly but surely in the early part of his career, but management knew the time would soon come to take off the kid gloves and let Kemp play. His game hasn’t been perfect - he can be overmatched by right-handed pitching, and he doesn’t have great plate discipline - but those are things that are corrected with time and experience.

While the plate discipline numbers are still lacking, Kemp has made an emphatic case to be in the lineup every day. Since April 15, he has started in 14 of the team’s 15 games and hit .333 with a home run, five stolen bases and 15 RBIs. He has been brilliant over L.A.’s six-game winning streak, batting .407 with 11 RBIs, including the game-winner on Thursday.

Kemp projects to keep doing much of the same damage. In fact, he is a virtual clone of Chicago Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee and will reach that level of production. If things click and he stays healthy, Kemp has the potential to hit .320 with 25 home runs and 25 stolen bases.

So, it’s no wonder why Torre has found now to be the time to let Kemp loose. Over the course of a season, those numbers will have a big effect on the Dodgers’ playoff chances.

In other news …

Yet another pitching phenom, Los Angeles Angels right-hander Nick Adenhart, made his debut on Thursday night; a rough outing, on three days rest against the A’s. Ignore the results of this one, Adenhart has the tools and the polish to make an impact in fantasy right away. He’s had success at each stage of his career, though a high walk rate should be watched carefully.

The Cincinnati Reds may add another young gun to their rotation, as Homer Bailey continues to impress for Triple-A Louisville. He is 4-2 with a 2.29 ERA and 32 strikeouts in six starts (39.1 innings), while Reds fifth starter Matt Belisle is pitching himself off the big-league roster.

Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki out until at least the All-Star break with a torn tendon in his left quad, the Rockies’ official site reported on Thursday. As if all the makings for a sophomore slump weren’t already there, Tulowitzki suffers a serious, unfortunate leg injury that could affect him all season.

Their 2007 success has not had a good effect on any of the Rockies so far. It’s a bad mix for such a young team to experience so much success at once. Complacency is a tough thing to fight through, and none of the players have any practical leadership experience to deal with heightened expectations.

Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes is singing the same tune as Tulowitzki, struggling badly to begin the year, then landing on the disabled list on Thursday. Hughes was 0-4 with a 9.00 ERA before being diagnosed with a stress fracture in his rib cage, an injury that will sideline him until at least July.

More opinions …

A Dodgers Blog wants you to vote for Dodger All-Stars, though Kemp has been left off the ballot.

Metsmerized sticks it to Yankee fans about Phil Hughes.

Bleacher Report wonders, why not bring up Bailey now?

Dustin Hockensmith is editor of ImaginaryDiamond.com. He can be contacted at dhockensmith[at]fantasysports101.net.