MLB Player News

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.

Guerrero has been unavailable the last few days after jamming his left middle finger during a plate appearance Tuesday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

The good news is the injury is considered minor, as Guerrero is expected back in the lineup for Saturday's contest against the Phillies. Vlad Jr. has had a strong Grapefruit League showing this spring, going 6-for-16 with a double and a home run.

Hoskins has gone 2-for-9 (.222) with a solo home run, three total runs scored and a 3:6 BB:K through four games this spring.

Coming off a torn ACL, Hoskins did not make his first appearance of the spring until Mar. 1, but he has reached base at least once in all four games he's played. Both hits he has recorded came over the last three days, so it seems he is settling in. He has not encountered any setbacks since making his debut, so he is on track to start at first base for the Brewers on Opening Day.

Walker started at first base and went 1-for-2 with a double in Thursday's spring game against the Rangers.

Walker returned from a hand injury sustained a week ago when he was hit by a pitch. He played three innings in the field and got two at-bats Thursday before being replaced by a pinch runner following his double in the top of the fourth inning. Walker will ramp up in the coming days with eye toward playing back-to-back days in the field.

Lowe reported tightness in his side before the Rangers' Cactus League game against Arizona on Thursday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Lowe's side caused him to be scratched in favor of Jared Walsh, but manager Bruce Bochy didn't seem too concerned about Lowe's condition. Lowe is 3-for-18 with two RBI across seven games so far this spring, and his absence from the lineup will likely be brief.

Gallo (quad) is starting at designated hitter and batting cleanup for the Nationals on Thursday versus the Mets, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Gallo hasn't played in a little over a week due to a sore quad, but he's feeling well enough to at least hit Thursday. It's not clear when he might be ready to play the field. Gallo is 1-for-7 with a couple RBI so far at the plate so far this spring. He'll be used in left field, at first base and at DH for the Nats this season.