Brandon

Crawford

Crawford has decided to hang up his spikes after a 14-year career dating back to 2011 that included stints with the Giants and Cardinals. The 37-year-old shortstop won a pair of World Series titles during a remarkable 13-year run with San Francisco where he was a three-time All-Star Game selection and four-time Gold Glove Award winner. He steps away with a lifetime .249 batting average to go along with 147 homers and 47 thefts across 1,682 contests. He’ll be remembered as an excellent defender at shortstop and a key component of the Giants’ sustained success for a decade-plus.

Crawford had made just two appearances for the Cardinals this month, going 0-for-4 in his one start. He was hitting .169/.263/.282 in 80 plate appearances for the season. He’ll likely try to latch on with another contender, but it’s possible this is it for the 37-year-old.

Arenado missed two consecutive games while dealing with a nerve issue in his left forearm. The 33-year-old is back in action, but he was moved down to sixth in the lineup. Brandon Crawford retreats to the bench with Arenado back in the fold.

As expected, Arenado is sitting out Thursday’s series opener against the Giants after X-rays came back negative on is left elbow after being hit by a pitch during Wednesday’s game against the Marlins. He had previously said he hoped to return by Saturday, so the Cardinals will continue to give him a couple of days off. Brandon Crawford will start at third base on Thursday and bat seventh.

Crawford probably won’t play tonight, but that’s just because he usually doesn’t; his start Sunday was his first appearance in 11 days. He’s appeared off the bench just twice all season, both in blowouts (the Cards lost the two games by a total of 22 runs).

Crawford grabbed at the back of his leg after swinging and missing at a pitch, and Jose Fermin came in to finish the rest of the at-bat. The 37-year-old will likely undergo testing to determine the severity of the injury, and there should be an update on his status before the conclusion of Sunday’s finale.

Crawford got the Cardinals on the board in the third inning with his 410-foot (102.2 mph EV) solo shot off of Phillies’ right-hander Aaron Nola. He also singled in the ballgame, finishing the night 2-for-2. On the season, the 37-year-old shortstop is slashing a pitiful .152/.222/.242 to go with his lone homer and one RBI on the season.

Winn will get a day off despite currently holding a nine-game hitting streak. The 22-year-old will get a break with Brandon Crawford getting the start at shortstop and hitting seventh. Nolan Gorman will also get the afternoon off against Nick Pivetta with Brendan Donovan handling second base.

The 22-year-old shortstop had started each of the team’s last nine games, so this looks to be just a regular day of rest for him. Winn is off to a terrific start this season, slashing a healthy .313/.385/.418 with zero homers, six RBI and four stolen bases (in five attempts) through 80 plate appearances in his first 23 games. Brandon Crawford will start in his place and bat eighth against Jose Butto and the Mets.

He’ll repeat the process on Thursday and Friday before the team determines when the 37-year-old infielder will be ready to make his Grapefruit League debut. Crawford is expected to open the team in a reserve role behind Masyn Winn and shouldn’t have much value overall from a fantasy perspective.