MLB Player News

Higashioka will be behind the plate for Gerrit Cole's starts a "fair amount" of the time, Brendan Kuty of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

Manager Aaron Boone didn't commit to Higashioka being Cole's personal catcher, but it sure sounds as if the backup backstop will get a chance to start most games when the Yankees' ace is on the mound. Higashioka started Tuesday, when Cole pitched seven scoreless frames and struck out 13 in a win over Baltimore.

Perez went 1-for-3 with a home run and a walk in Wednesday's loss against the Indians.

Perez clubbed his second homer of the season, but he has racked up just four hits in 19 at-bats to start 2021 while recording more than one knock just once in his first five games. Despite the slow start, the veteran backstop should once again be an integral component of the Royals' lineup throughout the season.

Vazquez went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, an additional RBI and an additional run scored in Wednesday's win over the Rays.

Vazquez went deep in the fourth inning off Ryan Yarbrough, but his contributions didn't stop there -- the backstop also added an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth and later came around to score on a throwing error from shortstop Willy Adames. Vazquez went hitless in his first two games but has picked things up since then, assembling a four-game hitting streak while recording three multi-hit games during that span.

Jansen (knee) went 1-for-3 with a double and a strikeout in Wednesday's 2-1 loss to the Rangers.

Jansen missed one game with the knee injury. He smacked a double in the fifth inning off Rangers starter Kyle Gibson but couldn't come around to score. Jansen was lifted for pinch-hitter Rowdy Tellez, who made the final out of the game. The 25-year-old Jansen is hitting just .182 with a run scored across 13 plate appearances to start 2021.

Murphy isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers.

Murphy started each of the past two games and went hitless with a walk and four strikeouts in seven at-bats during that time. Aramis Garcia will take his place behind the plate Wednesday, batting ninth.

Jansen (knee) is starting Wednesday's game against Texas.

Jansen was available off the bench Tuesday but didn't appear in the contest. However, he'll start behind the dish and bat ninth Wednesday.

Collins went 2-for-5 with a home run, a double, three RBI and a run scored in Tuesday's 10-4 win over the Mariners.

Collins opened up the scoring in the second when he took Nick Margevicius deep to right field to give the White Sox an early 3-0 lead. The 26-year-old later roped a double into the gap in right-center field for the first multi extra-base hit game of his young career. Collins got the start behind the plate in this one while Yasmani Grandal got the night off, and he should continue to rotate in and out of the lineup at either catcher or DH.

Heim went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's win over the Blue Jays.

The backstop swatted a 392-foot homer to left field in the sixth inning for the first long ball of his major-league career. Heim didn't show substantial power in the minors -- he has never reached double-digit homers in a single season -- though he does offer solid defense and batted .358 over 106 at-bats at Triple-A in 2019.

Vazquez went 1-for-4 with a walk, stolen base and a solo home run Tuesday against the Rays.

Vazquez led off the ninth inning with a solo home run off Diego Castillo to tie the game. It was his first home run of the season. Earlier in the game, he reached base on a walk and proceeded to steal second base in a double steal with Xander Bogaerts. Vazquez has gotten off to a strong start to the campaign, recording two multi-hit efforts in four starts.

Grandal is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Mariners.

Grandal is hitting .267 with one home run, three walks and three strikeouts through four games. Zack Collins will start behind the dish and bat seventh.