MLB Player News
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Bo Naylor C | CLE
Guardians' Bo Naylor: Idle for series opener
Naylor is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Mets.
After starting behind the plate in each of the Guardians' last three games, the left-handed-hitting Naylor will get a breather Monday while the Mets send southpaw Sean Manaea to the hill. Austin Hedges will serve as Cleveland's catcher in the series opener.
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Kyle Higashioka C | TEX
Rangers' Kyle Higashioka: Out of Monday's lineup
Higashioka is not in the lineup for Monday's tilt against the Yankees.
Higashioka started both of the previous two contests and five of the last six games, but he'll take a seat in Monday's series opener. Jonah Heim will handle catching duties and will bat eighth for the Rangers.
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Logan O'Hoppe C | LAA
Angels' Logan O'Hoppe: Resting up Sunday
O'Hoppe is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox.
O'Hoppe will receive a breather after he started behind the plate in each of the past three contests while going 1-for-9 with two walks and one run. Travis d'Arnaud will handle the catching duties Sunday.
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Tyler Heineman C | TOR
Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: On bench in Kirk's return
Heineman (head) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals.
Heineman started behind the plate in the first two games of the series with Kansas City but exited Saturday's 4-2 win after being diagnosed with a head contusion when he took a foul tip off his mask. Per Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca, manager John Schneider said that Heineman hasn't developed any concussion symptoms, but he's still viewed as day-to-day. In any case, Heineman's brief run as Toronto's No. 1 catcher is over, as the Blue Jays activated Alejandro Kirk (concussion) from the 7-day injured list Sunday.
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Alejandro Kirk C | TOR
Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk: Comes off 7-day IL
The Blue Jays reinstated Kirk (concussion) from the 7-day injured list Sunday. He'll start at catcher and bat sixth against the Royals.
The backstop had a minimum-length stay on the shelf after being struck on the facemask by a foul tip last weekend. The 26-year-old Kirk will step back in as Toronto's No. 1 backstop after slashing .304/.361/.413 with seven home runs, 47 RBI and 27 runs over 88 games prior to landing on the IL.
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Victor Caratini C | HOU
Astros' Victor Caratini: Playing time trending down
Caratini is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.
Despite bringing his batting average up to .267 with a 4-for-5 performance in Saturday's 7-3 loss, Caratini will head to the bench for the series finale. With Houston acquiring Carlos Correa and Jesus Sanchez at the trade deadline and getting Jeremy Pena back from the injured list Friday, Caratini's playing time may become more inconsistent.
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Carlos Narvaez C | BOS
Red Sox's Carlos Narvaez: Sitting Sunday, likely Monday, too
Narvaez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros.
Narvaez will get a breather after he caught all nine innings of Saturday's 7-3 win over the Astros. Connor Wong will get the nod behind the plate Sunday, and manager Alex Cora said he planned on having the 29-year-old catch again Monday against the Royals in an effort to keep him sharp, according to Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. Despite the impending time off, Narvaez should still viewed as Boston's No. 1 catcher.
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Kyle Higashioka C | TEX
Rangers' Kyle Higashioka: Homer, three RBI in win
Higashioka went 2-for-4 with a home run, a walk, three total RBI and an additional run scored in Saturday's 6-4 extra-innings win over the Mariners.
Higashioka opened the scoring with a two-run homer in the third inning and broke a 2-2 tie in the 10th with an RBI single. In 17 games since July 4, the veteran backstop has posted a remarkable 1.142 OPS with nine extra-base hits, 14 RBI and 10 runs scored. For the year, he's slashing .269/.316/.431 with seven home runs, 30 RBI, 22 runs scored and three steals across 212 plate appearances.
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Salvador Perez C | KC
Royals' Salvador Perez: Belts homer No. 20
Perez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Blue Jays.
The veteran catcher took Max Scherzer deep in the sixth inning, giving Perez his fifth straight 20-homer campaign and the ninth of his Hall of Fame career. The 35-year-old has been getting plenty of work at first base and DH this season to preserve his legs, but with Freddy Fermin now a Padre, Perez might need to be behind the plate more often over the final two months unless the Royals decide top prospect Carter Jensen, who has eight homers in his first 24 Triple-A games, is ready for his big-league debut.