Cron started at first base and went 0-for-2 in Monday's spring game against the Pirates.

Cron, who signed with Boston at the beginning of the month, made his Grapefruit League debut. He told CJ Haddad of MLB.com that it felt good to be out there, after the first baseman was limited to 71 games in 2023 due to a back injury. Cron is competing for a backup job at first base along with Bobby Dalbec. Of the two, Cron has a better track record of hitting MLB pitching.

France, who went 2-for-3 with an RBI single in a Cactus League win over the Giants on Sunday, is now hitting .278 over eight Cactus League games.

France worked extensively on adjusting his hitting mechanics this offseason, but after lacing a double in his first at-bat of spring, he went 1-for-7 over his subsequent trio of contests. However, France now has a pair of two-hit efforts in his last three exhibitions and has reached safely in three straight, and he's driven all three of his spring runs in over the past five games.

Harris (oblique) came off the bench and played two innings at first base Saturday in the Rangers' 7-1 loss to the Dodgers in Cactus League play.

Harris hadn't appeared in a Cactus League game since Feb. 28 due to a sore oblique, but he looks like he'll head into the regular season with a clean bill of health after he was available to play Saturday. He'll open the 2024 campaign at Triple-A Round Rock after the Rangers optioned him Tuesday.

Guerrero was scratched from the lineup for Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles due to a left knee contusion, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

The 24-year-old was slated to start at first base and bat second in one of Sunday's split-squad games versus Baltimore, but he'll instead receive a day off after suffering the injury Saturday. Manager John Schneider said it's a minor issue that won't require medical testing, so Guerrero could be back in action within the next few days.

Abreu reported soreness in his right knee following Thursday's spring training game against the Cardinals, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Abreu's knee problems came as a result of his sliding attempt to catch a foul ball during Thursday's contest. He will sit out of the Astros' next few exhibition games, but the concern regarding Abreu's Opening Day status is low. The 37-year-old is 4-for-14 with an RBI through six games so far this spring.

Guerrero (finger) will start at first base and bat third in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.

It appears to be all systems go for Guerrero after he jammed his left middle finger during a plate appearance Tuesday. He has six hits this spring, including a majestic, 438-foot homer to dead center field against the Phillies on March 4. A bounce-back season is widely expected for the 24-year-old.

Walsh started at first base and went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's spring game against Kansas City.

On the day the Rangers announced Nathaniel Lowe (oblique) could miss Opening Day, Walsh filled in at first base. He's hit safely in all eight Cactus League games he's played, going 8-for-20 with three walks, a double, two home runs, four RBI and four runs. If Walsh is playing his way onto the team, the Rangers will need to create a spot on the 40-man roster. The lefty batter could fill the strong side of a platoon at designated hitter once Lowe is healthy.

Votto signed with the Blue Jays as a non-roster invitee Friday, Buster Olney of ESPN reports.

The veteran first baseman was finally able to secure a contract for 2024, and it will come with the Canadian's hometown team. Votto clubbed 14 homers in just 65 games last season but struggled to make consistent contact with a .202 batting average. He seems likely to open the campaign at Triple-A Buffalo given how late he's joining the club, especially since there's no clear path to a place on Toronto's MLB roster with Spencer Horwitz and Daniel Vogelbach already competing for a left-handed DH/pinch-hitting role on the bench.

Walsh could be the leading candidate to fill in for the injured Nathaniel Lowe (oblique) at first base for the Rangers, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.

In camp as a non-roster invitee, Walsh is sporting a 1.147 OPS with one home run and a 4:3 K:BB over his first seven Cactus League games, thrusting himself into the conversation to replace Lowe. Justin Foscue looks like the other likely replacement, although he's also in the mix at designated hitter. Manager Bruce Bochy listed Blaine Crim, Ezequiel Duran, Josh Smith and Davis Wendzel as possibilities at first base as well. Walsh had a breakout 2021 season with the Angels but has flopped since then due to injuries and other health issues, posting a .613 OPS and 32.1 percent strikeout rate across 572 plate appearances at the major-league level. The 30-year-old is starting at first base and batting third for Texas in Friday's Cactus League game versus the Royals.

Lowe is expected to be sidelined up to four weeks after being diagnosed with a right oblique strain, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.

Lowe had to be scratched from Thursday's lineup after reporting oblique soreness, and an MRI has revealed a strain. The severity of the strain is not clear, but even a low-grade oblique strain can cost a player multiple weeks. Jared Walsh and Justin Foscue have handled first base for the Rangers the last few days, with Walsh looking like the leading candidate to fill in for Lowe based in his strong spring. Manager Bruce Bochy also listed Blaine Crim, Ezequiel Duran, Josh Smith and Davis Wendzel as options at first base, although Duran and Smith could be needed at shortstop if Corey Seager (groin) isn't ready for Opening Day. It's also possible Lowe's absence would give Wyatt Langford a better shot at cracking the Opening Day roster.