Phillies could make Justin Crawford decision for 'extra jolt' to lineup
The Phillies have shown confidence in Crawford.
The Philadelphia Phillies are seeking an edge to secure their first World Series title since 2008, and they are considering giving center fielder Justin Crawford a chance to boost their lineup. Crawford, a 22-year-old with a pedestrian batting average (.263/.311/.347, .659 OPS), may not provide the power or on-base percentage needed for the postseason.
The Phillies could turn to benching Crawford to give Derek Hill or Bryan De La Cruz more opportunity at the bottom of the lineup, both of whom offer stronger power numbers. While Crawford has shown flashes of brilliance, such as his .306 batting average and .761 OPS in August, his performance in September has been on a mild downturn.
Despite his speed and ability to steal bases, his ground-ball-heavy and slap-hitting style may not translate well to the postseason. The Phillies may ultimately stick with Crawford in center field, but a lackluster performance in the batter's box could prove costly if the team advances in the playoffs.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
