The Seattle Mariners will be without JP Crawford again on Thursday night, and that decision could ripple beyond just the lineup card.
Crawford is still dealing with a wrist injury and will miss the third and final game of the three-game set against the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to Adam Jude of The Seattle Times. Seattle is also weighing whether to place him on the injured list.
“JP Crawford (wrist) is out of the lineup again,” Jude reported. “No roster move imminent, but Mariners haven't ruled out a potential IL stint.”
With Crawford sidelined, Colt Emmerson will start at shortstop for the second straight day. Emmerson stepped in for Crawford during Wednesday’s 4-2 loss and now gets the nod again while the 10-year veteran remains unavailable.
The injury comes at an interesting time for Seattle, with the August 3 trade deadline approaching and the Mariners already tied to plenty of speculation. The most common idea has been that the club could move a starting pitcher to help the offense, but Crawford’s name has also surfaced as a possible trade piece.
An IL stint would make that conversation more complicated. Crawford could still be traded while on the injured list, but the process comes with extra steps, including a physical that would have to be cleared before any deal becomes official.
It has been a rough season at the plate for Crawford. Through 307 at-bats, he has 65 hits, 10 home runs and 30 RBIs, along with a .212 batting average that is on pace for a career worst. He does, however, carry a .330 OBP.
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