Dodgers reinstate Carl Crawford, option Alex Guerrero

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers reinstated Carl Crawford from the paternity list on Tuesday after the outfielder missed the opening two games in Australia to be with his fiancèe for the birth of his third child.

Carl Leo Crawford was born on Saturday morning in Arizona.

Crawford was in Arizona Tuesday playing in a minor league game at Camelback Ranch, and is expected to join the Dodgers later this week.

To make room on the active roster for Crawford, the Dodgers optioned Alex Guerrero to Triple-A Albuquerque. Guerrero was credited with playing in two games in Sydney, but his major league debut consisted of getting announced as a pinch hitter on Saturday then removed for another pinch hitter. Guerrero struck out on Sunday in his only plate appearance.

Guerrero, 27, hit .300/.400/.500 (9-for-30) in 17 spring games and led the club with nine runs batted in during Cactus League play. The Dodgers want the second baseman, who was signed to a four-year, $28 million contract in October, to get regular at-bats after playing very little organized baseball in the last year since his defection from Cuba.

Though he was optioned, Guerrero will remain with the team through Saturday.

"He'll stay with us, along with the other guys who are coming back," manager Don Mattingly said. "He'll get a chance to play in the Freeway Series."

In addition to Guerrero, the Dodgers will have several players up from minor league camp to play during the Freeway Series against the Angels, which begins on Thursday in Los Angeles. He will be joined by catcher Tim Federowicz, pitcher Zach Lee, infielder Miguel Rojas and outfielder Joc Pederson, all of whom were sent to minor league camp on Friday night when the Dodgers trimmed their active roster prior to the opening series in Australia, as well as Red Patterson. Other minor leaguers expected to join the Dodgers by Thursday include catchers Miguel Olivo and J.C. Boscan, infielder Darnell Sweeney and outfielder Trayvon Robinson.

The Dodgers will have until Sunday at noon PT to set their active roster for the start of their domestic regular season that night against the Padres. That means three more moves will need to be made to add exempt players Zack Greinke, Dan Haren and Brandon League back to the 25-man roster.