Cardinals' Brandon Crawford: No longer starting at third
Rotowire
Crawford will start at shortstop and bat seventh Tuesday versus the Marlins, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Crawford was originally slated to make his first career start at third base, but with Masyn Winn (illness) being a late scratch Tuesday, Crawford will slot in at shortstop, his career-long position. The 37-year-old has appeared in two games in June, going 2-for-5 with two doubles and two runs scored.
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Cardinals' Brandon Crawford: Making first-ever start at third
Rotowire
Crawford (hamstring) will start at third base and bat eighth in Tuesday's game in Miami.
It's the first time in Crawford's 14-year major-league career that he's played a position other than shortstop. Crawford had to leave his last game on Sunday versus the Cubs with a left hamstring cramp, but he's ready to roll now.
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Cardinals' Brandon Crawford: Dealing with hamstring cramp
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The Cardinals announced that Crawford was removed from Sunday's 2-1 win over the Cubs in the eighth inning due to a left hamstring cramp, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
The fact that the Cardinals are classifying Crawford's injury as a cramp rather than a strain bodes well for his chances of avoiding a stint on the 10-day injured list, though he still may need a few days off to recover. Crawford has been a lightly used bench piece all season, as he was making just his 12th start of the campaign Sunday. He went 1-for-1 with a double, two walks and a run scored before exiting the contest midway through his eighth-inning plate appearance, when he appeared to tweak the hamstring on a big swing.
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Cardinals' Brandon Crawford: Lifted early with leg injury
Rotowire
Crawford was removed from Sunday's game against the Cubs in the top of the eighth inning with an apparent left hamstring injury, John Denton of MLB.com reports. He went 1-for-1 with a double, two walks and a run scored before departing.
With Masyn Winn getting a day out of the field and serving as the Cardinals' designated hitter, Crawford entered the starting nine at shortstop for just the 12th time all season. He got off to a strong start to the day at the plate before he was pulled midway through his eighth-inning plate appearance, when he appeared to grab at his hamstring following a big swing. Jose Fermin came off the bench to replace Crawford and popped out. The Cardinals should have more information on Crawford's condition after the game.
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Cardinals' Brandon Crawford: Slugs homer Friday
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Crawford went 2-for-2 with a solo home run in Friday's 4-2 loss to the Phillies.
Crawford hadn't played since May 19, but he got the start at shortstop to give Masyn Winn a breather Friday. The homer was Crawford's first extra-base hit of the campaign, though he's logged just 37 plate appearances over 12 contests through the end of May. The 37-year-old shortstop is firmly in a bench role without enough playing time to make an impact in most fantasy formats.
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Cardinals' Brandon Crawford: Drawing rare start
Rotowire
Crawford will start at shortstop and bat eighth in Friday's game versus the Phillies.
The veteran shortstop is receiving a rare start as Masyn Winn gets a day off. Crawford is a woeful 3-for-31 (all singles) at the plate for St. Louis this season. This will be the first time he's played in nearly two weeks.
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Cardinals' Brandon Crawford: Playing time sparse
Rotowire
Crawford is slashing .107/.194/.107 over 10 games with the Cardinals this season.
Crawford was signed to serve as backup to rookie Masyn Winn, who has been one of the Cardinals' better hitters. As such, Crawford has seen minimal playing time. All three of his hits this season have been singles, and he's also posted a 3:11 BB:K. The veteran shortstop is unlikely to see a larger role unless Winn suffers an injury or enters a severe slump.
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Cardinals' Brandon Crawford: Back in lineup Tuesday
Rotowire
Crawford (hand) is starting at shortstop and batting eighth for the Cardinals in Tuesday's exhibition game versus the Cubs, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Crawford missed a little time with some soreness in his hand after being hit by a pitch, but he's on track for Opening Day now after getting one final tune-up Tuesday. The veteran infielder is poised to serve as Masyn Winn's backup at shortstop in 2024.
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Cardinals' Brandon Crawford: Takes batting practice
Rotowire
Crawford (hand) took batting practice Monday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
As long as he doesn't experience any lingering effects with the hand injury he suffered just over a week ago, Crawford will return to play in the Cardinals' exhibition finale Tuesday against the Cubs. Assuming health, he's slated to serve as a backup shortstop for the Cards this season.
Cardinals' Brandon Crawford: Could be back this weekend
Rotowire
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Thursday that Crawford (hand) is aiming to return to game action this weekend, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Crawford hasn't played since being hit on the hand/wrist area by a pitch Sunday, but his return to the Grapefruit League lineup looks to be imminent. The 37-year-old is slated to back up Masyn Winn at shortstop for the Cardinals this season.
Cardinals' Brandon Crawford: Targeting return later in March
Rotowire
Crawford is hoping to be ready to play in Grapefruit League games by mid-to-late March, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
Crawford officially inked his one-year, $2 million contract with the Cardinals on Tuesday and will ramp up on the back fields for a bit before being thrown into game action. He shouldn't need too many spring at-bats in order to get ready for Opening Day. Crawford has indicated a willingness to play some second and/or third base for St. Louis, if needed, although president of baseball operations John Mozeliak has indicated the plan is to use Crawford only as a backup at shortstop, Brenden Schaeffer of KMOV reports.
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Cardinals' Brandon Crawford: Signs on with St. Louis
Rotowire
Crawford signed a contract with the Cardinals on Monday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
The longtime San Francisco Giant will head to St. Louis, where he will back up youngster Masyn Winn at shortstop. Crawford -- who turned 37 last month -- remains a good defender but has managed a lowly .216/.293/.332 over the last two seasons. The addition of Crawford could indicate some skepticism of Tommy Edman's (wrist) readiness for Opening Day, as he had been projected to be Winn's backup.
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Brandon Crawford: Plans to play in 2024
Rotowire
Crawford's agent, Joel Wolfe, said Tuesday that his client intends to continue his playing career in 2024, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Crawford batted just .194/.273/.314 over 320 plate appearances with the Giants in 2023 and will turn 37 years old in January, but Wolfe told reporters at the GM Meetings in Arizona that "several teams have called" him about the veteran shortstop since he officially became a free agent earlier this week. Wolfe went on to note that Crawford "would consider" playing second or third base, so perhaps he'd be open to operating in a utility role in 2024 if such an opportunity were to present itself.
