ARLINGTON, Texas — Nelson Cruz was put on the 15-day disabled list Saturday by the Rangers, a precautionary move to try to keep the outfielder’s strained right quadriceps from becoming a bigger problem.
Cruz said he has been running without any problems and was disappointed to be on the DL for the fourth time since the beginning of last season.
“It’s not good, not fun. I want to play,” Cruz said before going out for batting practice with the rest of the team. “The safe thing is to rest.”
The move was retroactive to Wednesday, a day after Cruz came out in the seventh inning of a game at Seattle because of a tight quad.
Upton handed two-game suspension.
Rays outfielder B.J. Upton was suspended two games and fined by Major League Baseball after he launched into a tirade after an ejection earlier this week.
Upton was ejected by umpire Chad Fairchild after striking out for the fourth straight time leading off the ninth inning Wednesday night against the Blue Jays. Upton has decided to appeal the suspension.
Footnotes.
Marlins pitcher Clay Hensley has been placed on the 15-day DL with bruised left ribs.
Hensley was hurt when he slipped on stairs at the team hotel in Cincinnati a week ago.
• The Nationals recalled outfielder Roger Bernadina from Triple-A Syracuse to take the place of Rick Ankiel.
Ankiel was placed on the DL on Friday, retroactive to Tuesday, with a sprained right wrist.
• Mets pitcher Chris Young missed his scheduled start Saturday against the visiting Dodgers because of tightness in his arm.
• Chase Utley homered twice in an extended spring training game in Dunedin, Fla.
• Cincinnati pitcher Johnny Cueto is scheduled to come off the DL today to make his first appearance of the season. Cueto missed the first month of the season with irritation in his right biceps/triceps.
