MLB Player News

Gallagher will start at catcher and bat eighth Saturday against the Yankees.

Gallagher is picking up just his fifth start of the season, as manager Ned Yost has ridden top backstop Martin Maldonado heavily early on. Unless Maldonado falls victim to injury or is traded, Gallagher probably won't be in store for primary duties behind the plate at any point in 2019.

The Yankees are expected to reinstate Sanchez (calf) from the 10-day injured list ahead of Wednesday's game against the Angels, Lindsey Adler of The Athletic reports.

Sanchez will have a one-game rehab assignment Monday with Low-A Charleston before flying out to California on Tuesday to join the big club. Assuming that Sanchez receives positive feedback from team doctors when he has his strained left calf reevaluated, he should step back in as the team's everyday catcher. Expect the Yankees to send Kyle Higashioka back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to clear a spot on the active roster for Sanchez.

Maldonado is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Yankees.

Maldonado is getting a routine breather after catching each of the Royals' past three games. Cam Gallagher will step in behind the plate as a battery mate for starting pitcher Heath Fillmyer.

Vazquez went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in a 6-4 victory over the Rays on Friday.

Like a lot of Red Sox hitters, Vazquez has struggled early this year, but he does appear to be coming on a bit, going 3-for-8 with two homers in the last two games. Vazquez also has four RBI in the last couple of contests. He is batting .224 with four homers, 10 RBI, eight runs and a steal in 49 at-bats.

Higashioka is catching and hitting eighth against the Royals on Friday.

Austin Romine will take a seat as Higashioka starts behind the dish for the first time in three games. The 28-year-old has just five at-bats since getting called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and he could get sent back down soon with Gary Sanchez progressing from the calf injury that landed him on the injured list.

Sanchez (calf) is expected to come off the IL during the Yankees' upcoming west coast road trip, which begins Monday against the Angels, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Sanchez is eligible to return Sunday but he will apparently require a little extra time before being activated. According to Lindsey Adler of The Athletic, manager Aaron Boone also said Sanchez will likely need one or two rehab games before rejoining the lineup, which makes an early week activation seem fairly improbable.

Narvaez went 3-for-4 with a three-run home run, four RBI, three runs and two walks in the Mariners' 11-10 victory over the Angels on Thursday.

The backstop was all over the place in this contest, reaching base five times and launching a three-run bomb off Jake Jewell in the seventh inning for his fourth long ball of the season. The big day at the dish boosts the 27-year-old's slash line up to a solid .297/.348/.500 over 64 at-bats.

Nicholas agreed to a minor-league deal with the White Sox earlier this month, Kegan Lowe of Baseball America reports.

Nicholas attended spring training with the Rockies but was released from the organization at the conclusion of camp. With top catching prospects Zack Collins and Seby Zavala both on hand at Triple-A Charlotte, the White Sox may elect to send Nicholas to Double-A Birmingham.

Maile is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Twins.

With top backstop Danny Jansen struggling in the early going, Maile has seen his opportunities pick up. Though he'll return to the bench for the series finale, Maile had started four of the past six games, going 3-for-13 with a home run during that span.

Thaiss is starting at third base for Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

The Angels have a logjam at first base and designated hitter with Albert Pujols and Justin Bour -- while Shohei Ohtani (elbow) is also nearing his return -- so Thaiss will attempt to increase his positional versatility. The 23-year-old slashed .372/.413/.674 during his time in major-league camp this spring.