MLB Player News

Kirk isn't starting the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Orioles.

Kirk went 0-for-4 with a strikeout Monday and will retreat to the bench for the second time in the last three matchups. Danny Jansen is serving as the designated hitter and batting cleanup.

Raleigh went 3-for-5 with a solo home run in a 9-6 win in Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader.

Raleigh started at DH in the nightcap and delivered his second three-hit game of the season, singling in the third and sixth and cracking a solo shot in the fifth. The long ball was the backstop's 27th of the campaign, as four of his last eight hits have left the yard. Raleigh's .278 isolated power would rank fourth in MLB if he had enough plate appearances to qualify.

Murphy went 3-for-5 in Tuesday's 2-1 extra-inning win over the Angels.

All three of Murphy's hits were singles. He missed one game with an illness and has since gone 4-for-10 across two contests since his return. The catcher has enjoyed a career year in almost all aspects, batting .251 with 18 home runs, 66 RBI, 67 runs scored, 37 doubles, two triples and a stolen base in 147 games. Only his .333 on-base percentage and .429 slugging percentage have fallen short of being career-best marks, as he logged better ratios in smaller samples in 2019 and 2020.

Maldonado went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 10-0 win over the Phillies.

Maldonado contributed a solo shot in the second inning, accounting for the last of the six runs charged to Phillies starter Ranger Suarez. Over his last seven games, Maldonado has gone just 3-for-19 with nine strikeouts. The catcher has set career highs in homers (15) and RBI (45) in 112 contests this year, but he's slashing only .187/.249/.354 with 40 runs scored and 12 doubles.

Contreras went 2-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Reds.

Contreras is now up to 22 home runs with one more game on the schedule Wednesday. If the catcher plays in the afternoon contest, he'll need two long balls to tie his career high of 24, set back in 2019. Either way, it's been a solid season for Contreras, as the veteran has an .815 OPS across 113 games. It'll be his first OPS above .800 since that 2019 campaign, when he finished with a career-best .888 mark.

Thaiss isn't starting Tuesday against Oakland, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

After going 1-for-8 with three walks over the last four games, Thaiss will take a seat Tuesday. Matt Duffy will take his place at first base and bat sixth.

O'Hoppe isn't starting Tuesday's game against the Athletics, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

O'Hoppe will turn catching duties over to Kurt Suzuki on Tuesday in what will likely be the final game in Suzuki's 16-year career.

Delay isn't in the lineup Tuesday against the Cardinals.

After recording hits in his last two games, Delay will sit out Tuesday in favor of Tyler Heineman, who will bat eighth. Delay and Heineman have traded off starts behind the plate most of the season, so it seems likely that Delay will get the start for Pittsburgh's final game Wednesday.

Godoy was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday.

Godoy logged just 20 at-bats in the majors this season, and only one of them resulted in a hit. He will now head to Indianapolis, where he has a .947 OPS over 42 plate appearances in 2022. To fill his roster spot, the Pirates recalled Tucupita Marcano in a corresponding move.

Heim isn't in the lineup for the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Yankees.

After being left off the starting lineup for Game 1, Heim will also begin Game 2 from the dugout. Sam Huff will get the starting nod behind home plate and bat sixth.