Dodgers News: Crawford Not Going To Australia; Left Field In Question

The Los Angeles Dodgers are heading to Australia on Sunday night. One of their projected starting outfielders will be staying back in Phoenix.

It was unclear whether expected starting left fielder Carl Crawford would be heading to Sydney because of the impending birth of his child with fiancé Evelyn Lozada. Today, we received word of his final decision.

According to J.P. Hoornstra of the LA Daily News, Crawford is expected to stay in the United States while the Dodgers make the trip:

Carl Crawford isn't going to Australia. #Dodgers

— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) March 15, 2014

The news that Crawford is staying now opens up another discussion in the form of who’ll be the starting left fielder for the two games against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Manager Don Mattingly will have three spring games, an exhibition game and a few days to make a decision before the first game on March 22.

Mattingly is considering a player that was on the team last year to take the job in Australia via Hoornstra:

Who plays left field depends on who's pitching. Scott Van Slyke is a candidate, Don Mattingly said.

— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) March 15, 2014

Van Slyke is hitting just .207 in 14 games this spring, but is also tied for the lead in home runs with two and is second on the team in RBI with seven. Last season, Van Slyke filled in admirably when needed and brought a power bat to the lineup.

Along with Van Slyke, the Dodgers have a few candidates for the vacant spot. Mike Baxter, Joc Pederson and Chone Figgins may all be considered to start in left for the Dodgers next week. Baxter has hit .290 with a pair of stolen bases this spring, Figgins leads the team in walks and also has a pair of stolen bases and Pederson has provided strong defense in center field with a pair of home runs at the plate. Baxter is the only one that is currently on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster, which could give him a leg up on the competition.

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