MLB Player News

Higashioka is not in the Rangers' starting lineup against the Guardians on Sunday.

Higashioka will get a breather after starting the last four games. Elias Diaz will get the nod at catcher and bat ninth in Sunday's series finale.

Basallo (abdomen) is starting behind home plate and batting fifth against the Blue Jays on Sunday, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Basallo was out of Saturday's lineup due to abdominal discomfort but entered the game in the ninth inning as a pinch hitter. He's been cleared to serve as the Orioles' catcher for Sunday's series finale while Adley Rutschman operates as the designated hitter.

Higashioka went 1-for-3 in Saturday's 6-0 loss to the Guardians.

Higashioka made a fourth consecutive start behind the plate and figures to continue seeing an uptick in playing time after the Rangers placed Danny Jansen (forearm) on the 10-day injury list. Jansen leads the Rangers with 36 starts behind the plate, but Higashioka (.245) has hit for a better batting average than Jansen (.171).

Jensen went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional RBI in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Twins.

Jensen accounted for most of the Royals' offensive production, blasting a leadoff homer in the first inning before adding a sacrifice fly in the ninth frame. Despite Saturday's productive moments, he's hitting .087 (2-for-23) with 10 strikeouts across six games in June. It has been a lackluster campaign thus far for the 22-year-old, as he's slashing .211/.286/.381 with eight homers, nine doubles, 30 RBI and 25 runs across 60 games while splitting time between catcher and designated hitter.

Salazar cleared waivers and received an outright assignment to Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Salazar was designated for assignment Thursday but will stay in the Astros' organization with Sugar Land. The 30-year-old could be recalled to the big leagues if Christian Vazquez or Collin Price is sidelined.

The Angels selected Campero's contract from Double-A Rocket City and placed him on the 10-day injured list Saturday due to a fractured hand.

Campero was hit by a pitch and suffered a fracture on his hand in Rocket City' game against Montgomery on Sunday, so he'll have to wait to make his 2026 big-league debut. Campero slashed .287/.375/.455 with six home runs and 27 RBI in 167 plate appearances at the Double-A level, and he's taking the 40-man roster spot of Omar Martinez, who was designated for assignment Saturday.

The Yankees recalled Escarra from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Saturday.

Escarra was sent down to Triple-A on Friday after putting up just a .493 OPS through 68 plate appearances, but he'll turn around and return to the Bronx now that Austin Wells (head) is on the injured list. Escarra will likely work in a timeshare alongside Ali Sanchez behind the plate until Wells returns.

The Yankees placed Wells on the 10-day injured list Saturday due to cervical headaches.

Wells has gone just 1-for-14 at the plate over his last five games, and his headaches will now force him to remain out until at least mid-June. J.C. Escarra was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in a corresponding move and will likely split reps behind the dish with Ali Sanchez.

The Rangers placed Jansen on the 10-day injured list Saturday, retroactive to Wednesday, with a right forearm strain.

Jansen's strained forearm helps to explain why he hasn't played since Tuesday. Kyle Higashioka will fill in as Texas' primary catcher while Jansen takes at least another week off to recover, and new signee Elias Diaz will serve as the backup.

The Yankees selected Sanchez's contract from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Saturday.

The Yankees will swap out J.C. Escarra for Sanchez in an effort to find any sort of offensive production from the catcher position. Sanchez has posted just a .454 OPS in his MLB career but has been serviceable in the minors this year with a .227 batting average and .702 OPS through 147 plate appearances.