MLB Player News

McCann (oblique) went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in Thursday's 6-4 win over Atlanta.

McCann was out for just under four weeks with a left oblique strain. The catcher wasn't able to make much of an impact in his return. It's expected he'll be eased back into action in a timeshare with Tomas Nido. Neither catcher has done much at the plate this year, so it wouldn't be surprising to see a near-even split of duties continue for a while. McCann's slash line is down to .176/.242/.282 through 95 plate appearances after his empty batting line Thursday.

Gomes isn't starting the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Cardinals.

Gomes didn't take the field during the first game of Thursday's twin bill, and he'll remain on the bench for the nightcap. P.J. Higgins is starting behind the plate while Willson Contreras serves as the designated hitter.

Jansen isn't starting Thursday's game against the Twins.

Jansen started the last four games and went 1-for-13 with two RBI and two strikeouts. Alejandro Kirk will start behind the dish while Cavan Biggio enters the lineup at second base Thursday.

Vazquez is out of the lineup for Thursday's game at Cleveland.

Vazquez made his first start for Houston on Wednesday and went 0-for-4 with a strikeout, and he'll take a seat for Thursday's series opener. Martin Maldonado will work behind the plate versus the Guardians.

D'Arnaud (illness) is starting behind the plate and batting sixth Thursday against the Mets.

The 33-year-old was held out of Wednesday's contest due to a stomach bug but is back in the lineup a day later. D'Arnaud is hitting .190 since the start of July and has been ceding playing time to William Contreras at catcher, even prior to Wednesday's absence.

Contreras isn't in the lineup Thursday against the Mets.

Contreras started the last four games and went 4-for-14 with two homers, three runs and three RBI. However, Travis d'Arnaud (illness) will take over behind the plate and bat sixth.

Nido is on the bench for Thursday's game against Atlanta.

With the Mets activating James McCann (oblique) from the injured list Thursday and inserting into the lineup, Nido's reign as the team's No. 1 catcher will come to an end. Though McCann has operated as the Mets' top option behind the plate when healthy during his two seasons with the team, manager Buck Showalter said Wednesday that McCann and Nido are likely to be used in a near-50/50 timeshare at catcher in the short-term future, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Once McCann's oblique injury is further behind him, however, expect him to eventually get the lion's share of the starts.

McCann (oblique) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Thursday.

McCann's activation was expected, and he's slated to start behind the dish during Thursday's series opener against Atlanta. The 32-year-old is expected to be in a near-even timeshare at catcher with Tomas Nido to help ease McCann back into action, but McCann should have a chance to reclaim his job as the primary backstop down the stretch. McCann struggled prior to his absence, slashing .183/.250/.293 with two home runs, 11 RBI, eight runs and a stolen base over 30 games.

Pinto isn't starting Thursday against the Tigers, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Pinto went 1-for-3 with a strikeout Wednesday against the Blue Jays and will take a seat for the second time in the last three games. Christian Bethancourt will take over behind the plate and bat ninth.

Higashioka went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and a double in Wednesday's loss to Seattle.

The Yankees weren't able to muster much offense in the contest, so Higashioka's seventh-inning two-run shot made only a small dent in a big Seattle lead. Nonetheless, it was a positive development for the catcher, whose previous homer came nearly a month ago. Higashioka has six long balls on the season, four of which came during a four-game stretch in mid-June.