Matt Kemp had a fantastic season in 2011 -- many thought he should have been named NL MVP.

He was off to an even more fantastic start in 2012, hitting .359/.446/.726 in 34 games with 12 home runs. He was leading the league in slugging percentage when he went on the 15-day disabled list with a hamstring problem.

Eric Stephen of SB Nation's Dodgers site True Blue LA reports that Kemp has been activated from the DL:

The Dodgers get a mighty large boost to their lineup on Tuesday night as center fielder Matt Kemp is back from the disabled list after missing 15 days with a strained left hamstring, an apparently contagious injury in the Dodgers clubhouse.

The Dodgers haven't yet announced the corresponding roster move, but Kemp is in tonight's starting lineup, batting third.

Kemp hit a pair of home runs and was 5-for-7 in his two minor league rehab games in Albuquerque, and looks to return to the form that saw him win National League Player of the Month honors in April.

The loss of Kemp to the DL hasn't slowed the Dodgers down too much; they're 9-5 without him and still have the best record in the league. It's always better, of course, to have a hitter of Kemp's caliber in the lineup than out. Other NL teams should beware.