"We're close, we're good friends," said Cruz, who played with Davis last year in Baltimore. "We talk, text. I'm happy for the success he's having. All my ex-teammates, I always pull for them. At the end, whatever it is, we take it."
But Cruz wants to win the home run battle, without question.
"Of course," he said with his trademark grin. "But whatever it is, we'll be happy for it."
Cruz already has achieved a career high with three more homers than he hit last year when he led the Majors with 40 for the Orioles.