Crawford played five games at the beginning of the season before he was sidelined with a sore lower back. Even then, he never played a full nine innings in any game, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts hinted Tuesday that pattern will continue.
“We’ve seen there’s a propensity to get injured,” Roberts said. “Even in the beginning of the season you saw I took him out even to get him off his feet. The idea of running him out there until he breaks is not something I believe in. I just try to kind of conserve as much as possible and just use that depth.”
Roberts said that “optimally” Crawford would play “three, maybe four times a week.”
Dodger left fielders are hitting .235 without Crawford. That number is propped up by Kiké Hernandez‘s .310 average, compiled almost entirely against left-handed pitchers. Howie Kendrick has struggled at the plate this season, batting .159, and is not in the starting lineup today with Crawford back.
Lee did not appear in a game during his three days in the majors.
Crawford made three rehab appearances with Oklahoma City and Single-A Rancho Cucamonga, combining to hit .364 (4-for-11) with two doubles and three RBI, last playing Sunday for the Quakes.