Dodgers OF Carl Crawford will miss Australia trip with child on way

Carl Crawford is MLB's active leader in triples with 117. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The Dodgers' outfield logjam will be temporarily fixed for their season-opening series in Australia, as Carl Crawford won't make the trip as he awaits the birth of his third child, manager Don Mattingly said on Saturday, according to Mark Saxon of ESPNLos Angeles.com.

"At this point, Carl's not going," Mattingly said.

Matt Kemp will begin the season on the disabled list as he recovers from ankle surgery, so Scott Van Slyke will likely start for the Dodgers in left field for the two games against the Diamondbacks.

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Crawford's fiancé, Evelyn Lozada, is expecting a baby boy any day now. Lozada is a former reality TV star and the ex-wife of former NFL wide receiver Chad Ochocinco.

Crawford will be placed on paternity leave, allowing the Dodgers to have 28 other players on their roster for the two games in Australia, according to Saxon.

A four-time All-Star, Crawford hit .283 with six homers, 31 RBIs and 15 steals in 116 games last season — his first in L.A.

The 32-year-old, who has led the the league in steals or triples four times in his career, has missed 209 games the last three seasons.

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