Giants' Brandon Crawford: Back in lineup Wednesday
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Crawford (knee) is starting at shortstop and batting third Wednesday versus the Rangers, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Crawford appears like he'll be ready to go for Opening Day after he makes his return to the lineup Wednesday following a multi-game absence due to a sore left knee. The 36-year-old is set to play in his 13th season with the Giants and will remain their everyday shortstop in 2023.
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Giants' Brandon Crawford: Nearing return to Cactus League
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Crawford (knee) is set to return to Cactus League action this week, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Crawford received a cortisone injection in his troublesome left knee early last week, but he was able to resume baseball activities over the weekend and is aiming to be ready for Opening Day. The veteran shortstop has logged only 13 plate appearances this spring and has recorded just one hit.
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Giants' Brandon Crawford: Set to resume baseball activities
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Crawford (knee) will resume baseball activities over the weekend, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Crawford has been battling some left knee soreness for the last several days but appears to be making some progress. He should be able to return to Cactus League action sometime next week, and the Giants anticipate him being ready to play shortstop Opening Day.
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Giants' Brandon Crawford: Gets cortisone injection for knee
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Crawford received a cortisone injection Sunday for his sore left knee, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
The hope is that the cortisone shot will help Crawford get over the hump and return to Cactus League action within a week or so. If it doesn't, the veteran shortstop will be at risk of missing the beginning of the 2023 regular season. He hasn't appeared in an exhibition game since last Friday.
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Giants' Brandon Crawford: Knee hurting, out at least one week
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The Giants announced Monday that Crawford is experiencing left knee discomfort and will be held out of baseball activities for the next week, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Crawford's week-long shutdown period wouldn't be a major concern if it came during the early portion of spring training, but now that he's battling a knee issue with Opening Day just two and a half weeks away, the veteran shortstop's availability for the start of the season is suddenly more of a question mark. Thairo Estrada will start at shortstop in Monday's Cactus League game against the Padres, and he could continue to see more work at the position for the duration of spring training in preparation for the possibility of Crawford opening the season on the injured list.
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Giants' Brandon Crawford: Remaining at shortstop
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Crawford will remain at shortstop in 2023 after Carlos Correa's agreement with the Giants fell through, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
The Giants had an introductory press conference scheduled for Correa on Tuesday, but something came up during his physical examination, and the 28-year-old is now joining the Mets. Crawford was slated to play a position other than shortstop for the first time in his MLB career, but he'll instead remain at the position for the final year of his contract in 2023. The Giants could technically still sign another shortstop, but a notable acquisition is unlikely with all the top options already off the market. Crawford appeared in 118 games last season and played through knee inflammation, and he had a .231/.308/.344 slash line with nine home runs and 52 RBI.
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Giants' Brandon Crawford: Shifting positions
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The Giants informed Crawford that Carlos Correa will be the team's primary shortstop after Correa agreed to a 13-year, $350 million contract Tuesday, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.
Correa has been a plus defender his entire career and has a Gold Glove to his name, so it's hardly a surprise he'll stick at shortstop as the new face of the franchise. Still, a position change for Crawford -- who has won four Gold Gloves in his own right -- is notable given he's exclusively played shortstop during his 12-year MLB career. Crawford was limited to 118 games last season by knee inflammation and had a .231/.308/.344 slash line, but he should still fill the strong side of a platoon at either second or third base for the Giants in 2023.
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Giants' Brandon Crawford: Not starting versus southpaw
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Crawford is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Padres, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Crawford will take a seat for Tuesday's contest with lefty Sean Manaea pitching for San Diego. Thairo Estrada will move to shortstop while Wilmer Flores mans the keystone.
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Giants' Brandon Crawford: Heads to bench
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Crawford will sit Saturday against Arizona, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
The Giants are all but officially eliminated from postseason contention, though the 35-year-old shortstop still finds himself playing a heavy role, starting nine straight games prior to Saturday's contest. Thairo Estrada will take his spot this time around.
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Giants' Brandon Crawford: Goes yard Friday
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Crawford went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 6-5 win over the Diamondbacks.
Crawford's homer was his ninth of the year and his first since Sept. 6. The shortstop has started to sit versus left-handed pitchers with some regularity, as his sharp defense hasn't been enough to overcome his poor hitting. The 35-year-old is slashing .227/.307/.348 with 48 RBI, 45 runs scored and a stolen base in 109 contests overall.
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Giants' Brandon Crawford: Collects two hits
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Crawford went 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's win over the Rockies.
Crawford led off the fourth inning with a double before coming around to score on a Jason Vosler triple. The shortstop came back the very next inning with a two-out RBI single to put the Giants up 4-0. Crawford has now hit safely in three straight games after registering just five hits in September leading up to that stretch.
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Giants' Brandon Crawford: Sitting versus lefty
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Crawford isn't starting Tuesday against Colorado, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
The left-handed bat of Crawford will begin Tuesday's game in the dugout with the left-handed arm of Kyle Freeland starting for the Rockies. Thairo Estrada will take his spot at shortstop, moving Wilmer Flores to second base, David Villar to designated hitter, and giving J.D. Davis a chance to start at first base while batting fifth.
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Giants' Brandon Crawford: Rests in series finale
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Crawford is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
After a string of five consecutive starts, the lefty-hitting Crawford will head to the bench for the series finale while southpaw Andrew Heaney toes the rubber for the Dodgers. Thairo Estrada will move over from his usual spot at the keystone to replace Crawford at shortstop.
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Giants' Brandon Crawford: Resting Sunday
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Crawford isn't in the lineup Sunday against the Cubs, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Crawford went 1-for-4 with a strikeout Saturday and will be out of the lineup for the fifth time in the last seven games. Thairo Estrada is starting at shortstop and batting sixth.
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Giants' Brandon Crawford: Not starting Friday
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Crawford isn't in the lineup Friday against the Cubs.
Crawford has gone 4-for-18 with a homer, four RBI and three runs over his six games since the start of September, but he'll be on the bench for the third time in the last four games. Thairo Estrada is starting at shortstop and batting fifth.
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Giants' Brandon Crawford: On bench Wednesday
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Crawford isn't starting Wednesday against the Dodgers, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area
Crawford recorded hits in four of the last five games and went 4-for-15 with a homer, four RBI and three runs during that time. Thairo Estrada is starting at shortstop and batting fifth Wednesday.
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Giants' Brandon Crawford: Pops eighth homer
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Crawford went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 6-3 loss to the Dodgers.
Crawford got the Giants within two runs with his sixth-inning blast, but those were their last runs of the game. The shortstop has delivered at least one RBI in four of his last five games, though his homer was his first since Aug. 20. He's slashing .228/.309/.350 with eight homers, 45 RBI, 40 runs scored, one steal, 13 doubles and two triples through 98 contests.
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Giants' Brandon Crawford: Resting against lefty
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Crawford is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Crawford will join fellow lefty-hitting lineup regulars Mike Yastrzemski and Joc Pederson on the bench for the series finale while lefty Ranger Suarez toes the rubber for Philadelphia. Thairo Estrada moves over from his usual post at the keystone to replace Crawford as the Giants' shortstop.
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Giants' Brandon Crawford: Ejected from Wednesday's game
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Crawford was ejected from Wednesday's game against the Padres ahead of the third inning, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.
Crawford struck out for the second out in the bottom of the second inning and was talking with the third-base umpire prior to being ejected for the third time in his career. It seems unlikely that Wednesday's ejection will lead to further discipline, so he should be available for Friday's series opener against the Phillies.
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Giants' Brandon Crawford: Racks up three hits
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Crawford went 3-for-4 with an RBI in Sunday's 8-3 loss to the Twins.
Crawford went 8-for-30 (.267) with one home run, one double, four RBI and two runs scored during the Giants' eight-game road trip that concluded Sunday. He was their most effective hitter in this loss. For the season, the veteran shortstop has struggled to a .225/.306/.347 slash line with seven home runs, 41 RBI, 36 runs scored and one stolen base through 90 contests, though he's still seeing a near-everyday role when healthy.
