Dodgers outfielder Carl Crawford to start rehabilitation assignment

Dodgers outfielder Carl Crawford (lower back irritation) will fly to Oklahoma City to start a rehabilitation assignment with the team’s triple-A affiliate on Wednesday morning. He is expected to play for Oklahoma City in Wednesday night’s game.

Crawford is eligible to come off the disabled list on Sunday. With Crawford out, the Dodgers have improvised in left field. Howie Kendrick started there again on Tuesday. Trayce Thompson has also received time in left.

Manager Dave Roberts was unsure if the team would activate Crawford immediately.

“We’ve got to look closely at the pitching and where our pen is after the second day in Colorado and see where we stand,” Roberts said.

The Dodgers have carried an eight-man bullpen since the middle of last week, when rookie catcher Austin Barnes was optioned to the minors and left-handed reliever Adam Liberatore remained with the big-league club. When Crawford returns, the logical maneuver to free a roster spot would be to send a reliever to the minors.

andy.mccullough@latimes.com

Twitter: @McCulloughTimes