FORT MYERS, Fla. — Boston Red Sox outfielder Carl Crawford will be shut down this week to let his left wrist heal and it’s unlikely he’ll be ready to play by opening day.

Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said Monday that Crawford would held out for five to seven days because of inflammation. Crawford had surgery on his wrist in mid-January.

Crawford had been throwing and swinging a bat but had to limit his activities last week after he developed soreness in his wrist.

Valentine says it’s “probably not realistic” that Crawford would be set to play when the Red Sox begin the season April 5 at Detroit.

Crawford had career lows with a .255 batting average and 18 stolen bases in 2011, the first season of his seven-year, $142 million with Boston.