MLB Player News

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Cruz's recurring left ankle issues are not believing to be a long-term concern, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Cruz played just nine games before a fractured left ankle ended his 2023 season. The ankle has since bothered him off and on during the 2024 season, including most recently during Monday's game versus the Angels. He's been able to mostly play through it, but you have to wonder whether it could be contributing to Cruz's disappointing .244/.293/.382 batting line. However, at least at this juncture, it does not appear the team is worried about Cruz's ankle problems becoming chronic.

Bichette will start at shortstop and bat sixth in Wednesday's contest in Philadelphia.

Bichette had already been dropped down in the Blue Jays' batting order in recent days, and the No. 6 spot is the lowest he has hit since August 2022. The 26-year-old is just 3-for-40 over his last 11 games to drag his season batting line down to an ugly .189/.246/.268.

DeJong went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 5-1 loss to the Rays.

The veteran shortstop snapped a 16-game homer drought with his seventh-inning shot off Zach Eflin, but it was all the offense the White Sox could muster. DeJong had a brutal start to the season, but has begun to provide some consistent production over the last couple weeks, batting .263 (10-for-38) over his last 11 contests with three doubles, four RBI and six runs, but his 1:13 BB:K over that stretch highlights how quickly even that moderate level of success could evaporate. On the season, DeJong is slashing .228/.276/.435 with four homers and eight RBI.

Adames went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run during Tuesday's 6-5 win over the Royals.

Adames stepped up to the plate with Gary Sanchez and William Contreras aboard with two outs and the Brewers down 5-3, smacking a laser over the left-field wall for the go-ahead homer. The long ball was Adames' fourth in the last seven games, a stretch in which he's racked up 12 RBI and scored six times.

The Red Sox are expected to reinstate Gonzalez (wrist) from the 10-day injured list Wednesday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Gonzalez has been on the injured list since April 13 due to a left wrist sprain, and he's gone 4-for-11 with three RBI since beginning a rehab assignment at Triple-A Worcester on Friday. Once activated, the 27-year-old infielder will presumably move into a reserve role behind Vaughn Grissom and Ceddanne Rafaela.

Manager Scott Servais said Tuesday that Crawford (oblique) took swings in the batting cages at the team's complex in Arizona, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Servais added that Crawford will progress to hitting on the field with the hopes of swinging at full strength this weekend. If the 29-year-old shortstop is able to do that without any problems, he will embark on a brief rehab assignment before returning to the Mariners' lineup. Crawford had gone 5-for-16 with four RBI across his last four games before landing on the injured list April 25.

Hernaiz was lifted for a pinch runner and limped off the field after stepping awkwardly on first base Tuesday against Texas, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Hernaiz's day will be done after he sustained a left ankle injury trying to beat out an infield hit in the second inning. While he managed to beat the throw, Hernaiz was replaced by Max Schuemann and won't return to Tuesday's contest. The A's have a doubleheader with the Rangers on Wednesday, followed by a day off before a three-game set against the Mariners that begins Friday.

Alexander is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Reds, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

Alexander will give up the shortstop spot to Kevin Newman for a second straight game. The pair should continue to split work until Geraldo Perdomo (knee) returns.

Winn is absent from the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Mets.

It's a day off for Winn, who is just 4-for-28 at the dish over his last eight games. Brandon Crawford will get the start at shortstop for the Cardinals against the Mets' Jose Butto.

Cruz is not in the lineup for Tuesday's contest versus the Angels.

The left-handed hitting Cruz was in the lineup each of the previous two times the Pirates faced a southpaw, but he will begin Tuesday's game on the bench as the Angels send lefty Patrick Sandoval to the hill. Alika Williams will occupy shortstop and bat ninth.