MLB Player News
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Connor Wong C | BOS
Red Sox's Connor Wong: Will start Saturday
Wong will start Saturday's game against the Cardinals, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Wong was held out of the lineup for two straight games but is scheduled to be part of the starting crew Saturday and Sunday. It was mildly surprising to see Carlos Narvaez start Friday's home opener, but Narvaez may be the preferred catcher whenever Walker Buehler starts.
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Ryan Jeffers C | MIN
Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Out of Saturday's lineup
Jeffers isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Houston.
Jeffers will take a day off after going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts during a loss in Friday's series opener. His absence will allow Christian Vazquez to start behind the dish while batting ninth.
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Logan O'Hoppe C | LAA
Angels' Logan O'Hoppe: Slugs third homer
O'Hoppe went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Friday's loss to Cleveland.
O'Hoppe tried to rally the Angels from a late deficit with his solo blast to center field in the ninth inning, but his team ultimately fell two runs short. The talented young backstop's homer was his second in as many games and his third overall this season. Among MLB catchers, only Ivan Herrera has more long balls (four) in the early part of the campaign.
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Kyle Higashioka C | TEX
Rangers' Kyle Higashioka: Knocks in run
Higashioka went 1-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Friday's 5-2 win over the Rays.
Higashioka knocked in the first of four runs the Rangers scored in the third inning. He has taken on an equitable share of the catching position alongside Jonah Heim. Each player has started four games. Higashioka is batting .250 (3-for-12) with two doubles, two RBI and three runs scored so far this season.
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Matt Thaiss C | BOS
White Sox's Matt Thaiss: Sitting Saturday
Thaiss isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Tigers.
Thaiss will get a chance to rest Saturday after going 3-for-13 with an RBI and two run scored through his first six games of the season. Korey Lee will catch for Davis Martin instead and bat eighth.
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Samuel Basallo C | BAL
Orioles' Samuel Basallo: Injures hamstring
Basallo was removed from Friday's game with left hamstring discomfort, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Basallo has battled an elbow issue since late in spring training, which limited him to DH duties to start the year with Triple-A Norfolk. The severity of the hamstring issue is unclear, but it's been a bumpy start to the season for Basallo.
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Jonah Heim C | ATL
Rangers' Jonah Heim: Out of lineup Friday
Heim is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Rays.
Kyle Higashioka will make another start behind the plate, catching for Tyler Mahle. Through eight games, each catcher has been in the starting lineup four times. Heim is slashing .308/.308/.769 with two home runs, two RBI and two runs scored through 13 plate appearances on the young season.
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J.C. Escarra C | NYY
Yankees' J.C. Escarra: Notches first big-league hit
Escarra went 1-for-4 with a double in Thursday's 9-7 victory over Arizona.
With Austin Wells getting a game off, Escarra made his first start of the campaign. The 29-year-old enjoyed a personal milestone in the seventh inning when he hit a double to right field for his first hit as a major-leaguer. Escarra is a feel-good story -- he made the Yankees' Opening Day roster this year after being out of affiliated ball in 2022 and 2023 -- but his fantasy viability is limited due to his role as a backup to Wells, though Escarra does have the ability to play at both corner-infield and corner-outfield spots if needed.
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Connor Wong C | BOS
Red Sox's Connor Wong: Out of lineup again Friday
Wong is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Cardinals.
Wong isn't dealing with any known injury, but this is the second straight game he's sat out and Friday is Boston's home opener, so it's a bit curious that he's not in the lineup. Carlos Narvaez will do the catching and bat eighth Friday.