MLB Player News

Stassi isn't starting Friday's game against the Dodgers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Stassi started the last four games and went 3-for-16 with a homer, four runs, two RBI, a walk and five strikeouts. Kurt Suzuki is starting behind the dish and batting eighth.

Zavala is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Twins.

Zavala started the past three games and will take a seat for Friday's contest. Reese McGuire will work behind the plate Friday in Zavala's place.

Jeffers isn't starting Friday against the White Sox.

Jeffers went 2-for-7 with a run, a walk and a strikeout over the last two games and will retreat to the bench Friday. Gary Sanchez is starting behind the plate.

Maldonado will hit the bench Friday against Oakland.

Maldonado is hitting just .167/.237/.324 on the year, but his 64 starts behind the plate rank third at the position. He'll sit here after starting eight of the last nine games, with Korey Lee set to catch for Jose Urquidy.

Jansen will be on the bench Friday against the Royals.

Jansen returned from a fractured hamate bone Tuesday. Since then, he and Alejandro Kirk have alternated starts behind the plate, with Kirk serving as the designated hitter when not asked to catch. Kirk starts behind the plate Friday, pushing Jansen to the bench.

Trevino will sit Friday against the Red Sox.

Trevino will get a breather after he went 1-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base in Thursday's loss to the Reds. Kyle Higashioka will start at catcher and bat eighth in Friday's series opener.

Heim went 2-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and run scored in Thursday's 6-5 loss to the Mariners.

Heim, who started the last two games after missing Tuesday's contest due to illness, knocked in the second of three runs the Rangers plated in the bottom of the first inning. The RBI gives him 32 over 67 games, tying the career high he set in 2021 over 82 games. Heim is poised to establish new career highs in several categories, as he will serve as the Rangers' primary backstop the rest of the season. The Buffalo native is slashing .267/.320/.480 over 241 plate appearances.

Zavala went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run and an additional run scored in a 12-2 victory over Minnesota on Thursday.

Chicago had built a 9-1 lead by the ninth inning, and Zavala put the exclamation mark on the rout with his three-run shot to left field in the top of that frame. The long ball was his second of the campaign and first since June 15. Zavala hasn't hit for much power overall this season, but he's shown well with a .303/.349/.474 slash line through 24 games.

Sanchez isn't starting Thursday against the White Sox.

Sanchez has lost out on playing time recently and will retreat to the bench for the fifth time in the last seven matchups. Jose Miranda is serving as the designated hitter and batting seventh.

The Royals selected Fermin's contract from Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.

Fermin and fellow catcher Sebastian Rivero were summoned from the minors in advance of the Royals' four-game series in Toronto since Kansas City will be without backstops MJ Melendez and Cam Gallagher, who were both placed on the restricted list due to their vaccination statuses and aren't eligible to cross the Canadian border. Though Fermin had been playing with the Royals' top affiliate in Omaha, it'll be Rivero -- who had been playing at Double-A Northwest Arkansas -- who catches for starting pitcher Angel Zerpa in the series opener.