NELSON CRUZ NEWS

Rays clinch 2nd straight AL East title, beat Marlins 7-3

The Tampa Bay Rays clinched their second straight AL East title, with Mike Zunino hitting a go-ahead homer and Brandon Lowe later adding a pair of RBI doubles to beat the Miami Mar...

SEPTEMBER 26, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Expected back Sunday Cruz is expected to be back in the lineup Sunday against Miami, radio broadcaster Steve Carney reports.

Impact He dealt with an illness earlier this week and lost some weight while he was sick, but he returned to action Friday. Cruz is no longer ill, but he was held out of Saturday's lineup to rest and recover.

SEPTEMBER 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Out of Saturday's lineup Cruz is not in Saturday's lineup against the Marlins, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact He dealt with an illness earlier in the week but returned to action Friday. Austin Meadows will start at designated hitter and bat cleanup.

SEPTEMBER 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Good to go Friday Cruz (illness) is batting cleanup as the designated hitter Friday against the Marlins, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact The veteran slugger sat out Wednesday due to an illness, but he'll rejoin the lineup following Thursday's scheduled off day. Cruz got off to a hot start in September but is 2-for-19 with zero extra-base hits in his past six games.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Rays rookie INF Wander Franco returns from hamstring injury

Tampa Bay Rays rookie Wander Franco has been reinstated from the 10-day injured list after missing two weeks with a right hamstring injury

SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cabrera scheduled to start for Marlins at Rays

The Marlins will start Edward Cabrera on Friday while the Rays are expected to counter with David Robertson

SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Kepler homers twice, Ryan's 11 Ks lead Twins over Cubs 5-4

Max Kepler homered twice, rookie Joe Ryan struck out a season-high 11, and the Minnesota Twins held on to beat the Chicago Cubs 5-4

SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Kiermaier hit after scouting report flap; Rays to playoffs

Kevin Kiermaier was hit by a pitch after scooping up a Toronto scouting report two days earlier, and the Tampa Bay Rays clinched a postseason berth with a 7-1 victory over the Blue...

SEPTEMBER 22, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Battling illness Rays manager Kevin Cash said Cruz is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays due to an illness, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Cash added that Cruz will be available off the bench in a pinch-hitting capacity, so the 41-year-old is presumably on track to rejoin the lineup following Thursday's off day. Austin Meadows will handle designated hitter duties Wednesday in Cruz's stead.

SEPTEMBER 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Remains out of lineup Cruz isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Cruz has gone just 1-for-12 with a walk and five strikeouts across his last four appearances, and he'll be out of the lineup for the fourth time in the last six games. Austin Meadows will serve as the designated hitter while Manuel Margot starts in right field.

SEPTEMBER 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Day off Tuesday Cruz is not in the starting lineup Tuesday against Toronto, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact The veteran slugger will get a rest after going 1-for-6 with a walk during the past two games. Cruz missed two games last week with a forearm injury, so it isn't at all surprising that the Rays are looking to keep the 41-year-old fresh as Tampa Bay prepares for its postseason run. Austin Meadows will serve as the DH on Tuesday.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Twins mailbag: Jose Miranda and other breakout prospects, La Tortuga's future, bullpen miracles and bunt hits Plus the odds of re-signing Nelson Cruz and Michael Pineda, payroll projections and fancy charts.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Walks in return to lineup Cruz (forearm) started at designated hitter in a loss to the Tigers on Sunday and went 0-for-2 with a walk.

Impact After sitting out the last two games with forearm soreness stemming from being plunked by a pitch Thursday against the Tigers, Cruz returned for the series finale and logged three plate appearances before being pinch run for by Kevin Kiermaier (illness). Cruz remains mired in a brief but undeniable funk, as he's now hit .067 (1-for-18) with five strikeouts over his last five games.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Tigers, Peralta slow AL-East leading Rays 2-0

Wily Peralta gave up three hits in seven innings, and Eric Haase and Dustin Garneau homered for the Detroit Tigers in a 2-0 win over the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays

SEPTEMBER 19, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Good to go Sunday Cruz (forearm) is batting third as the designated hitter Sunday versus the Tigers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Cruz sat out the past two games after exiting Thursday's contest due to a hit-by-pitch, but he'll rejoin the lineup for Sunday's series finale. The veteran slugger is 1-for-13 in his last four contests and will attempt to get back on track against Detroit righty Wily Peralta.

SEPTEMBER 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

McClanahan expected to start for Tampa Bay against Detroit

The Rays will roll out Shane McClanahan to the mound Sunday and the Tigers will give Wily Peralta the start

SEPTEMBER 19, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Candelario and Garneau homer, Tigers beat Rays 4-3

Jeimer Candelario and Dustin Garneau homered as the Detroit Tigers beat the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays 4-3

SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Remains sidelined Cruz (forearm) remains on the bench Saturday against the Tigers.

Impact Cruz exited Thursday's series opener after getting hit in the arm by a pitch. He didn't appear in Friday's contest, though manager Kevin Cash said he was available off the bench. He'll presumably be available again in a similar capacity Saturday, but the Rays evidently feel no rush to get him back in the lineup given their 8.5-game lead in the American League East. Jordan Luplow will be the designated hitter Saturday.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Rays place CF Kevin Kiermaier on COVID-19 related IL

The AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays placed center fielder Kevin Kiermaier on the COVID-19 related IL due to general illness symptoms and selected the contract of right-hander Joey K...

SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Skubal, Tigers to face Yarbrough, Rays

The Tigers will start Tarik Skubal on Saturday and the Rays are expected to counter with Ryan Yarbrough

SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Phillips homers in 10th as Rays rally to beat Tigers 7-4

Brett Phillips hit a three-run homer in the 10th inning and the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays came back from a three-run deficit in the ninth to beat the Detroit Tigers 7-4

SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Guerrero hits 46th HR, but Twins hit 3 in row, top Blue Jays

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. connected for his major league-leading 46th homer, but Jorge Polanco, Josh Donaldson, and Miguel Sanó hit consecutive homers as the Minnesota Twins beat the T...

SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sitting Friday, as expected Cruz (forearm) is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Tigers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Cruz was hit by a pitch on the forearm Thursday and isn't in the lineup Friday, though manager Kevin Cash previously indicated the slugger will be "fully available" off the bench. The 41-year-old also started the previous 17 games, so it's a good time for a day off for the veteran regardless of the injury.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Won't miss much time Manager Kevin Cash said Cruz (forearm) is "fully available" for Friday's contest against the Tigers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Cruz exited Thursday's game after being hit by a pitch in his arm. He was diagnosed with a contusion after X-rays came back negative, alleviating concerns that he suffered a major injury. Cash did note that Cruz will likely get a day off Friday, but he should return for the final two games of the team's weekend set against Detroit.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Dealing with forearm contusion Cruz exited Thursday's game against the Tigers with a right forearm contusion, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Cruz was hit in the arm by a pitch from Tyler Alexander, which is the presumed reason for his exit. In more positive news, X-rays performed after Cruz's exit came back negative. That should allow him to avoid a stint on the injured list, though he may sit out a game or two in the remainder of the Rays' weekend series against Detroit.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE