With Carl Crawford improving, Don Mattingly is mum on Matt Kemp’s future.

Matt Kemp

Matt Kemp has started the Dodgers’ last eight games in left field. (Associated Press)

Carl Crawford took a few steps closer to rejoining the Dodgers. They were quick steps, too, which is encouraging.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said Crawford is about 80-85 percent healthy in his recovery from a sprained left ankle that landed him on the disabled list May 28. Mattingly couldn’t say for certain, but “we’re hoping he’ll be ready when he’s due to come off. I think it’s the last game of the Cincinnati series (June 12).”

Once that happens, what will happen to Matt Kemp?

Kemp, who is struggling with a career-low .243 batting average and has just four hits in his past 34 at-bats, has been spelling Crawford in left. It figures once Crawford is ready to play, Kemp will be the odd man out.

Mattingly wouldn’t go there. Actually, he wouldn’t go anywhere with it.

“We don’t have to talk about that now,” he said. “I don’t want to right now.”

What about a platoon situation with Crawford and Kemp?

“I’m not thinking about any of that right now,” said Mattingly, who said his current thinking was centered more on how his team can put together some victories.

“I’m clearly focused on that,” he said.

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About J.P. Hoornstra

J.P. Hoornstra covers the Dodgers, Angels and Major League Baseball for the Orange County Register, Los Angeles Daily News, Long Beach Press-Telegram, Torrance Daily Breeze, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News, San Bernardino Sun, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Whittier Daily News and Redlands Daily Facts. Before taking the beat in 2012, J.P. covered the NHL for four years. UCLA gave him a degree once upon a time; when he graduated on schedule, he missed getting Arnold Schwarzenegger's autograph on his diploma by five months.