Mariners Activate J.P. Crawford from Injured List

The Seattle Mariners have activated shortstop J.P. Crawford from the 10-day injured list, where he had been since suffering a hairline fracture in his right pinky finger on July 22. Crawford's return is seen as a critical boost for the team as they aim for a Wild Card berth, despite a recent managerial change and struggles that have seen them lose 10 of their last 14 games. He will bat leadoff and start at shortstop in Wednesday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Although Crawford's batting average this season is a low .204, he remains a key defensive player and ranks eighth on the team in RBIs. The Mariners currently hold a record of 67-66 and are 5.5 games back from the postseason, needing to improve their performance in the final month of the season. Interim manager Dan Wilson expressed optimism about the team's potential with Crawford back in the lineup.