Tampa Bay Rays place DH Nelson Cruz on COVID-19 injured list; Chris Archer, Ji-Man Choi leave with injuries

The Tampa Bay Rays placed designated hitter Nelson Cruz on the COVID-19 injured list Sunday.

The move was announced Sunday about one hour before the Rays hosted the Chicago White Sox in a matchup of AL division leaders. It is not clear whether Cruz tested positive for the virus or if he was placed on the COVID-19 IL because he was a close contact.

Tampa Bay also lost starting pitcher Chris Archer and first baseman Ji-Man Choi during the first two innings of the game. The AL East-leading Rays started the day with 16 players, including 15 pitchers, on the IL.

Cruz, acquired by the Rays from the Minnesota Twins before the trade deadline, is hitting just .198 with seven home runs and 18 RBIs in 24 games with Tampa Bay.

Overall this season, the 41-year-old Cruz is hitting .270 with 26 home runs and 68 RBIs.

Archer was pulled because of left hip tightness in his first start since since April 10, when he left a game against the New York Yankees due to right lateral forearm tightness. He allowed one hit and one walk and struck out four before leaving after two scoreless innings.

Choi doubled in the first and scored on Austin Meadow's single but left after the inning with left hamstring tightness.

The Rays recalled right-hander Chris Mazza from Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move to take Cruz's place on the roster.