MLB Player News

Manager Scott Servais said Saturday that Crawford (foot) will "be ready to go" for Seattle's Opening Day matchup with Cleveland on Thursday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

The veteran shortstop fouled a pitch off his right foot Friday but was diagnosed with just a bruise after X-rays and a CT scan come back negative. Crawford isn't in the lineup for Sunday's spring game but has gone through a full workout since he suffered the injury, and there's no concern about his availability for Opening Day.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters that Chang is expected to play Monday against Atlanta, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

Cora notes that Chang is moving well, and that he looks the same physically after spending time away from the Red Sox for the World Baseball Classic and then dealing a visa issue, adding that they have no questions with him defensively. "It's just a matter of where we're at (roster-wise) in the upcoming days," Cora said. Chang is on the roster bubble for Boston, and the Red Sox likely won't make a decision until right before Opening Day.

Franco (quadriceps) is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Sunday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Franco was scratched from the lineup before Saturday's Grapefruit League contest against Boston with right quadriceps tightness. The infielder's absence was deemed precautionary, but Tampa Bay will have the 22-year-old undergo further imaging to ascertain whether he's dealing with any structural damage. If Franco is forced to miss time to begin the season, Taylor Walls would likely see the majority of reps at shortstop in his absence.

X-rays returned negative Saturday on Crawford's foot, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports.

Crawford fouled a ball off his foot before Friday's Cactus League game against the Athletics, and was scratched from the lineup. The Mariners believed his absence to be precautionary, however, and the results seem to prove it. At this point, it appears very likely Crawford is ready to be the starting shortstop for Opening Day against the Guardians on Thursday.

Smith was scratched from the lineup for Saturday's Cactus League game against the Padres due to a jammed left thumb.

The injury doesn't sound like the sort of thing which could place Smith's readiness for Opening Day in serious doubt. The team expects him to be ready to go by Monday, per Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com.

Fletcher was scratched from the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cubs due to abdominal tightness, Sarah Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The Angels called Fletcher's absence precautionary, so he seemingly still has a chance to be ready for Opening Day, but the timing means that even a modest setback could send him to the injured list. When healthy, Fletcher lines up with an uncertain role in a middle-infield group that's full of capable but largely unexciting options, including Brandon Drury, Luis Rengifo and Gio Urshela.

Franco was scratched from the lineup for Saturday's game against Boston due to right quadriceps soreness, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Franco was listed as the designated hitter but didn't come up to the plate for his first at-bat. The Rays are calling his removal precautionary, so Opening Day still seems to be in play, but the young shortstop's history of quad problems make the issue more worrisome than it might otherwise be. A strained right quadriceps cost him nearly a month in 2022, and he had a pair of brief absences earlier that year due to minor issues with the same muscle.

Franco was listed as the Rays' designated hitter Saturday against the Red Sox and was expected to bat second but was replaced prior to his first at-bat of the game, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The reason for the change of plans is not yet clear, but it's possible Franco is dealing with some sort of injury. He hasn't looked as though he's playing hurt this spring, slashing .263/.364/.526 through nine games.

Mariners manager Scott Servais told reporters that Crawford will undergo X-rays on his foot before Saturday's Cactus League game against the Giants, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Crawford fouled a ball of his foot before Friday's game, and was scratched from the lineup shortly before the start of the contest. The infielder was able to go through pregame workouts, but the Mariners won't take any chances with their starting shortstop. If Crawford winds up missing time to begin the regular season, Mason McCoy could find himself in the Opening Day starting lineup.

Crawford is out of the lineup Friday after fouling a ball off his foot, SShannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports.

Crawford was scheduled to hit at the top of the otrder and play shortstop, but the infielder was scratched as a precaution. The 28-year-old is considered day-to-day, but at this point there's little reason to think he won't be ready to go for the regular season.