MLB Player News

Higashioka went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Angels.

Higashioka got a run back with his seventh-inning blast, but the Rangers couldn't build a rally. The catcher has three homers this season, and two of them have come over his last four games. He's batting just .215 with a .621 OPS, nine RBI, eight runs scored and no stolen bases over 86 plate appearances. Higashioka and Danny Jansen continue to split the catching duties fairly evenly, though Jansen has a slight edge.

O'Hoppe (head) isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Rangers, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.

O'Hoppe was put through concussion protocol after he collided with Josh Jung during Friday's contest, but he said Saturday that he cleared it and is out of the lineup simply as a precaution, per Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. Sebastian Rivero will pick up a start behind the plate while O'Hoppe sits, and the latter will presumably aim to return to the starting nine Sunday.

Garver isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Royals.

Garver will catch a breather after going 2-for-4 with a two-run homer during Friday's series opener. Jhonny Pereda will pick up a start behind the dish and bat eighth.

Valenzuela isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Pittsburgh.

Valenzuela lost his four-game hitting streak Friday, but he still reached base twice on a pair of walks, scored a run and stole a base in the victory. He'll get a chance to rest his legs Saturday while Tyler Heineman starts at catcher.

Narvaez isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Minnesota.

Narvaez will pick out a seat on the bench Saturday after notching a base hit and scoring a run in both of his last two games. While he rests, Connor Wong will start behind home plate and bat eighth.

Vazquez isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cubs.

Vazquez will get a day off Saturday after going 2-for-4 with a homer and an additional RBI during Friday's win. Cesar Salazar will replace him behind the dish and bat ninth.

Kirk (thumb) will be evaluated by the Blue Jays training staff this weekend as he prepares to take the next step in his rehab, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

The backstop has been catching bullpens and taking live BP at the team's spring training complex in Dunedin. Assuming Kirk's surgically repaired thumb checks out OK, he could be cleared for a rehab assignment. The 27-year-old has been sidelined since April 3, and his return to the big-league lineup appears to be drawing close. Brandon Valenzuela and Tyler Heineman will continue to split duties behind the plate until Kirk is activated from the IL.

Garver went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's win over the Royals.

Garver's two-run homer was not only all the offense the Mariners produced throughout the game, but they were the lone two runs of the entire game. Garver has been slumping at the plate recently, tallying just four hits across 28 at-bats in 13 games since the beginning of May -- although two of those have left the yard. Expect Garver to handle the majority of the catching reps as long as Cal Raleigh (oblique) remains sidelined, but Garver should not be expected to be a major fantasy contributor. He's hitting just .143 with a .690 OPS in 13 games in May.

O'Hoppe was removed from Friday's game against the Rangers with an apparent head injury, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

The 26-year-old backstop was slow to his feet after he collided with Josh Jung on a play at the plate in the seventh inning. O'Hoppe remained in the game for his at-bat in the bottom of the frame but was replaced behind the dish when the Angels took the field for the eighth. He said after the game that he feels fine, per Fletcher, but the Angels will put him through concussion protocol as a precaution. Sebastian Rivero would take over as the Halos' primary catcher if O'Hoppe ends up needing a move to the injured list.

Romo is not in the White Sox's starting lineup against the Giants on Friday.

Romo will be on the bench for the beginning of Friday's contest while Edgar Quero starts behind home plate and bats ninth. Romo has gone 8-for-45 (.178) with one steal, four home runs and seven RBI since being called up by the White Sox in late April.