Dodgers outfielder Carl Crawford has not been afraid to voice his opinion about his two years in Boston.
“Just to be out of that situation is the best thing to ever happen to me,” Crawford has said recently.
Boston’s trip to Dodger Stadium has probably been a targeted series for Crawford since the schedules were released.
So perhaps it was a bit of a surprise that Crawford was not in manager Don Mattingly’s starting lineup for Saturday’s afternoon.
Mattingly said he made it a point to find Crawford before he announced the lineup.
“I visited him before I posted it,” Mattingly said. “He’s fine. I want to make sure we take care of Carl and have him healthy for the rest of the year.
“I’m sure he wants to play today, but my job is to keep him healthy.”
Crawford went 2 for 3 with a run scored and two stolen bases in the Dodgers’ 2-0 victory over the Red Sox on Friday night. For the season, Crawford is batting .293 with a .415 on-base percentage and 51 runs scored, showing he has returned from Tommy John surgery on his left elbow.
For that reason, Mattingly said he wanted to pace Crawford.
“He’s such a hard worker, and sometimes he could use a breather,” Mattingly said.