MLB Player News

Murphy (thumb) is expected to be cleared to increase the intensity of his baseball activities this week, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Murphy has been sidelined since mid-August with a left thumb sprain but seems to have made a rapid recovery. It's not clear at this point whether he will require a rehab assignment before rejoining the Mariners.

Heim is not in the lineup Friday against the Twins.

Heim has gone 2-for-24 (.083) with zero extra-base hits and eight strikeouts since returning Aug. 13 from a three-week absence to heal a tendon strain in his left wrist. Austin Hedges will get a rare start at catcher Friday as Mitch Garver serves as the Rangers' designated hitter.

The Angels selected Wallach's contract from Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Wallach was pushed off the 40-man roster earlier this month, but he's needed again to back up Logan O'Hoppe with Matt Thaiss (shoulder) landing on the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move.

The Angels placed Thaiss on the 10-day injured list Friday with right shoulder inflammation, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Chad Wallach has been summoned from Triple-A Salt Lake to take over backup duties behind promising young catcher Logan O'Hoppe. Thaiss has a .223/.330/.344 season slash line across 291 plate appearances.

Jansen is not in the lineup Friday versus the Guardians.

Alejandro Kirk will start at catcher as he and Jansen continue to split time at the position. They're both right-handed hitters, so it's not a natural -- nor predictable -- platoon in Toronto.

McCann (hand) is back in the lineup Friday against the Rockies.

McCann will start at catcher and bat sixth after missing a couple of games due to a bruised left hand. He was slashing .464/.515/.714 through 33 plate appearances in August prior to that minor injury and has a favorable matchup Friday versus Rockies left-hander Kyle Freeland.

Lee is getting another start at catcher and batting ninth Friday versus the Athletics.

Acquired from the Astros ahead of the Aug. 1 trade deadline in exchange for Kendall Graveman, Lee went 1-for-4 with a single and a run scored in his White Sox debut Thursday versus Oakland. The 25-year-old is expected to play regularly down the stretch as Chicago looks ahead to 2024 and beyond.

Wong is not in the lineup for Friday's game versus the Dodgers, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Wong had started each of the last three contests behind the plate but will yield to Reese McGuire for this one. Expect Wong to be back in there for one or both of the next two games of the weekend series.

Fry (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Columbus on Friday.

Fry last appeared in a game Aug. 4, but he resumed baseball activities just over a week ago. The 27-year-old will likely get two or three games with Columbus as he works his way back from a left hamstring strain. Once he's cleared to return, he'll be available to provide an additional short-side platoon option at catcher, first base, right field or designated hitter. Considering the Guardians already have three catchers on the roster and have bolstered their outfield this month, first base is his most reasonable path to playing time, at least until Josh Naylor (oblique) returns.

Langeliers went 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI in an 8-4 win over the White Sox on Thursday.

Langeliers produced half of Oakland's runs in the victory, knocking a three-run homer in the fourth inning and adding a solo shot in the sixth. The backstop has gone deep four times over his past four games, batting .308 with six RBI over that span. Langeliers is up to 15 homers on the season, making him one of 13 catchers in the league to reach that mark so far.