LOS ANGELES — Carl Crawford returned from the disabled list after missing 40 games, but the Los Angeles Dodgers veteran won’t be a starting anytime soon unless one of his fellow outfielders goes down as he did.
Crawford will serve as a reserve since the Dodgers’ outfield is set with Matt Kemp starting in left, Andre Ethier and Scott Van Slyke sharing time in center and Yasiel Puig playing in right.
Crawford was platooning with Kemp in left when he sprained his left ankle in May. Kemp, according to Dodgers manager Don Mattingly, is now established in left.
For the time being, Crawford is accepting his role.
“Carl has never been any trouble (in the clubhouse),” Mattingly said. “Obviously, Carl’s a guy who wants to play, but at this point he probably sees what’s been going on, we’ve been playing well. I think at the end of the day, guys want to get to the postseason and have a chance win it all. But he also knows there will be chances and opportunities.
“In the second half, we’ve got a nasty little month coming at us. We’re going to need everybody.”
Crawford never got off the bench Thursday in the Dodgers’ 2-1 win over the San Diego Padres.