MLB Player News

Higashioka is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Royals.

After missing three straight starts due to a hamstring injury, Higashioka returned to the lineup for Wednesday's 6-3 win and made his presence felt with a tie-breaking three-run double in the top of the ninth. Higashioka will rest for the day game after a night game, but he should settle back in as the Rangers' primary backstop now that the hamstring issue is seemingly behind him.

Kelly is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest against the Brewers.

Kelly started at catcher in the Cubs' 4-3 win Wednesday night, so he will get a break for Thursday's matinee. Reese McGuire will fill in behind the dish and bat ninth for the Cubs.

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

Langeliers had started every game at either catcher or designated hitter since the All-Star break, so he'll get a well overdue day off as the Athletics close out their series in Minnesota. Willie MacIver will receive a turn behind the dish Thursday.

Wells went 2-for-4 with two solo home runs in Wednesday's 6-4 extra-inning win over the Rays.

Wells took Drew Rasmussen deep in the fifth inning, then went back-to-back with Giancarlo Stanton in the 10th off Tampa Bay closer Pete Fairbanks. The backstop has been losing playing time lately to Ben Rice due to a slump that had seen him bat just .119 (7-for-59) since the All-Star break, but Wednesday's breakout -- Wells' first multi-hit performance since July 9 -- might be a sign he's ready to reclaim No. 1 duties behind the plate.

Jeffers is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Athletics.

Jeffers had started behind the plate in each of the Twins' last four games, so he'll be getting a routine breather Thursday as Minnesota closes out its series against the Athletics with a day game. Mickey Gasper will handle catching duties for the Twins and will form a battery with starting pitcher Jose Urena.

Higashioka went 1-for-4 with a three-run double in Wednesday's 6-3 win over the Royals.

Higashioka, who sat out the previous four contests with a hamstring injury, returned to the lineup and provided the key hit in the win. His ninth-inning double cleared the bases. Higashioka's batting just .206 (7-for-34) over 10 games this month, but he's managed to make in impact with nine RBI over the stretch.

Moreno (finger) started at catcher and went 1-for-3 with a solo home run for Triple-A Reno on Wednesday.

Moreno caught for a second straight game and homered in each contest. The Diamondbacks, who are off Thursday, planned this back-to-back action to be Moreno's final test before an activation from the 60-day injured list ahead of a three-game set against the Reds beginning Friday.

Goodman went 3-for-5 with a double and three RBI in an 8-3 win against the Dodgers on Wednesday.

Goodman's RBI all came in the latter stages of the contest -- he knocked a run-scoring single in the sixth inning and added a two-run double in the eighth. The talented young catcher finished with his first multi-hit game since Aug. 5 and his seventh three-hit game of the campaign. Among MLB backstops, Goodman ranks second with 72 RBI and is tied for fourth with 22 doubles.

Vazquez underwent surgery due to remove an infection from his left shoulder and will remain at his home in Florida for about two more weeks, MLB.com reports. He will be on a course of antibiotics for three weeks.

The Twins haven't ruled out Vazquez from returning this season, but that seems like a long shot given his treatment schedule and with the Twins out of the playoff hunt.

Langeliers went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 4-2 extra-inning win over the Twins.

Langeliers smashed a go-ahead shot, his 28th homer of the year, in the 10th inning to give the Athletics the lead. Since returning from the injured list June 30, the slugging backstop has been on an absolute tear in the power department. Langeliers has now homered in three consecutive outings, and he's batting .309 with 18 big flies, 11 doubles and 33 RBI over his last 40 contests.