MLB Player News

Cruz went 2-for-5 with an RBI, a double, a run scored and two stolen bases Thursday against the Nationals.

Cruz started his fifth straight game with a lefty starter on the mound, and he's only been benched once against southpaws this season. He continued his hot start to the campaign, doubling in a run in the fifth inning. Cruz also swiped two bases, giving him nine across 19 games while being caught just once.

Williams and Atlanta agreed on a minor-league contract Thursday.

Williams elected free agency Wednesday after being designated for assignment by Atlanta on Monday, but he will now return to the organization. The 29-year-old will look to impress with Triple-A Gwinnett in an attempt to potentially earn another shot with the major-league roster down the road this year.

Brito went 0-for-3 with a walk in Thursday's 4-2 win over Baltimore.

Brito swung a hot stick upon his call-up from Triple-A Columbus in the wake of Gabriel Arias' hamstring injury that will keep him sidelined until mid-May at the earliest. After going 5-for-12 with a pair of doubles in his first three games, Brito's moved in the other direction; he's gone 1-for-18 with two walks and eight strikeouts over his last six contests.

Duran started at shortstop and went 2-for-4 with a double, a stolen base, two RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's 9-6 win over the Athletics.

Duran gave the Rangers a cushion with a two-run single in the ninth inning. His name popped up in the starting lineup for a fifth consecutive game, this time as a replacement for the resting Corey Seager. His previous starts came at third base for a banged up Josh Jung and in the outfield for the then-injured Wyatt Langford, both of whom are back and played Thursday. The steal was the third in the last four games for Duran, who stole 11 bags in a part-time role last season.

Muncy is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rangers.

Muncy suffered a bruised hand earlier in the series when he was hit by a pitch, and the Athletics are wrapping up their four-game set versus Texas with a day game after a night game, so manager Mark Kotsay will elect to give the young infielder a breather. Darell Hernaiz will check in at third base in place of Muncy, who started in each of the Athletics' first 18 games of the season while slashing .288/.338/.485 with two home runs, two steals, 13 runs and five RBI.

Arias is hitting .542 with two home runs, one steal, a 12.9 percent walk rate and a 6.5 percent strikeout rate in 31 plate appearances for Double-A Portland.

His first homer of the season April 14 was a majestic shot to center-right field -- an impressive feat for a righty-hitting 20-year-old who is the third-youngest hitter at Double-A, behind Jesus Made and Leo De Vries. His second homer of the season April 15 was hammered to the pull side and he also stole his first base in that game. Arias' hit tool has long been one of the more advanced in the minors, and he seems to be heading for a power breakout in the upper levels.

Seager is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Athletics.

Seager will receive his first day off of the season after he started each of the Rangers' first 18 contests. Ezequiel Duran will fill in at shortstop for Seager, who is batting just .152 through 13 games in April but has contributed three home runs, eight RBI, seven runs and one stolen base.

Barger (ankles) resumed baseball activity at the Blue Jays' complex in Florida this week and is expected to begin swinging the bat Friday or Saturday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Barger has played catch the last two days, and returning to hitting and running are the next steps in his recovery from sprained left and right ankles. Barger is expected to resume running Tuesday or Wednesday of next week and will go from there. While eligible to come off the injured list Friday, that doesn't appear to be a realistic target for Barger. Perhaps he'll be back with the Blue Jays for the start of their next homestand against the Guardians on Friday, April 24.

Montgomery is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rays.

Montgomery wore the golden sombrero in Wednesday's loss to the Rays and sports a 33.8 percent strikeout rate on the season, so he'll take a day Thursday to regroup. Tanner Murray is at shortstop and batting sixth as the White Sox try to avoid being swept.

Turner went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and a walk in Wednesday's 11-2 loss to the Cubs.

Turner wasted no time getting Philadelphia on the board, crushing a 423-foot solo homer off Shota Imanaga on the second pitch of the game. It was his second home run of the season and extended his strong stretch at the plate. Turner has now recorded a hit in 14 of his last 15 games, batting .283 with seven RBI and 10 runs scored across 64 plate appearances during that span.