Crawford returns from DL to modified role

SAN DIEGO -- The Phillies activated J.P. Crawford from the disabled list Friday, but his role will be slightly different than it was before he was sidelined.
Crawford, who had been on the disabled list since June 20 with a broken left hand, will serve as a utility reserve off the bench, manager Gabe Kapler said. With the acquisition of Asdrúbal Cabrera at shortstop, and Maikel Franco continuing to prove himself as a mainstay in the lineup, Crawford will battle with Scott Kingery for playing time.
"[He's] a weapon off the bench that can play multiple positions," Kapler said. "Notably, he's shortstop, third base, but also in a pinch, second base if we need it."
In his career with the Phillies, Crawford has played 31 games at shortstop, 24 at third base and four at second base. Crawford has batted .194/.312/.333 in 93 at-bats.
"Right now it looks like Cabrera's going to play a good bit," Kapler said. "Maikel Franco's been really good for two months straight. Those guys have earned the opportunity to be in a playoff run, to play quite a bit. For now, that's how we see it."
Since being traded to the Phillies on July 28, Cabrera has gone 9-40 with two home runs and six RBIs. Franco is coming off his best month of the season -- he batted .330/.378/.593 in July.
With the acquisition of Justin Bour Friday, the Phillies will have to make a change to their 25-man roster. Throughout the season, the Phillies have elected to carry 13 pitchers and use a smaller bench, due to the versatility of their roster. If they stick to that route, it's possible either Kingery or Crawford will be sent down.
"We want to see how tonight goes," Kapler said. "You don't have to commit to carrying 12 or 13, or any number [of pitchers] beyond one day,"
Worth noting
Bour is expected to arrive in San Diego and join the team Saturday. There is no official word on where or when he'll make his Phillies debut, but Kapler and general manager Matt Klentak both emphasized that Bour will primarily be used as a bench role.
"We think the style of at-bat that he gives will lend itself pretty well to a bench role," Klentak said.
Bour is having somewhat of a down year offensively -- he's batting .227/.312/.412 -- after setting career highs in batting average and on-base percentage last season. He's given the Phillies plenty of trouble in his career however -- he's blasted four home runs off Philadelphia pitchers this season.