The Washington Nationals are preparing to activate outfielder Dylan Crews from the 60-day injured list in time for Thursday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies, a move that could boost a lineup in need of a spark.
Crews entered the season as a top NL Rookie of the Year favorite but opened with a slow start, batting .196 over 173 plate appearances. He was also the victim of bad luck, posting a 23% hit rate, along with advanced metrics showing 114 HctX and 118 xPX. Despite the early struggles, he’s shown pop, with seven homers and 11 stolen bases on the year. Before his oblique injury sidelined him, Crews was starting to find a rhythm, going 7-for-24 with three homers.
BaseballHQ projects Crews at about an 80% rest-of-season likelihood, with the majority of his upside expected in the outfield, suggesting a potential bounce-back moment for his fantasy and real-world value as he returns to action.
In other MLB news, the Pittsburgh Pirates placed center fielder Oneil Cruz on the 7-day list.
Commentary and outlook:
– Crews’ return should provide a notable lift to Washington’s outfield depth and overall offense, giving the Nationals a stronger core as they push through a competitive stretch.
– If Crews can translate his pre-injury power and speed into consistent at-bats, he could help accelerate the team’s offensive production and potentially stabilize his rookie-season trajectory.
– For fantasy players, monitor Crews’s health and timing of activation; a successful return could restore much of the upside that made him a preseason standout.
Summary:
Dylan Crews’s expected activation signals a favorable turn for Washington as he aims to re-enter a lineup in need of offense and speed. While returning from an oblique injury always carries some risk, the historical indicators and recent performance suggest a solid opportunity for a meaningful impact moving forward. The Pirates’ roster update on Oneil Cruz adds to a busy day of roster moves around the league.