Philadelphia’s outfield picture got a little clearer, but not all the way. Justin Crawford, who has been out with left knee soreness, has shown improvement over the past couple of days, according to MLB.com. Even so, his return timeline is still listed as “TBD,” and it’s not yet clear whether he’ll be ready right after the All-Star break.
Crawford was scratched from the lineup on Friday, and the Phillies have been keeping a close eye on his status ever since. That matters because his health could shape how aggressively the club attacks the outfield market before the MLB trade deadline.
The 88-game sample Crawford has put together has been productive. He’s batting .263 with 12 doubles, two home runs, three triples and 12 stolen bases, giving Philadelphia a versatile and useful piece when he’s on the field. The Phillies are hoping that kind of impact returns sooner rather than later.
For now, the team will keep monitoring his progress and passing along updates as they come in.
Philadelphia heads into the All-Star break at 54-43 and sitting second in the National League East, just two games behind the Atlanta Braves. The division has tightened up after Atlanta built an early cushion, and the Phillies have put themselves in a strong spot entering the second half.
There’s still plenty of work ahead, but the path is there. A few meaningful additions could give Philadelphia a real shot at winning the NL East, though the Braves still have the talent to keep pushing the pace.
In Other News...
Byron Buxton Just Addressed The Twins Trade Rumors Himself
Byron Buxton took the guesswork out of one of the Phillies more familiar trade-rumor threads during the All-Star Game, making it clear he does not plan to leave Minnesota. The Twins center fielder had been viewed as a possible fit for Philadelphia because of the clubs need for a right-handed hitting outfielder at the deadline, but Buxtons stance effectively shuts that door before the market really starts to move.
For the Phillies, that means the search goes on elsewhere as they sort through their options. Right-handed bats such as Taylor Ward, Jo Adell and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. remain part of the broader conversation, and Philadelphia will have to decide whether to press ahead on that kind of profile or pivot to a different answer as the deadline approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Kyle Schwarber Finally Weighed In On MLB's Derby Change
Kyle Schwarber had a fresh take on the Home Run Derbys new setup when he talked about it on ESPNs The Pat McAfee Show, and the Phillies slugger sounded comfortable with the change. Instead of racing against a timer, hitters will now work through a fixed number of swings, with 20 in the first round and 15 in the later rounds, a tweak Schwarber said should be easier on players bodies than trying to keep up a full-speed barrage for two or three straight minutes.
For Schwarber, the bigger adjustment may not even belong to the hitter. He pointed out that the pitcher feeding balls into the derby will have to recalibrate the whole operation, from where to stand to how hard to throw, and even adjust to throwing to a catcher rather than a batting-practice backdrop. It is the kind of behind-the-scenes wrinkle that can matter just as much as the format itself, especially for a showcase built around rhythm, timing and repetition. [Read more 🡒]