MLB Player News

Higashioka was activated off the COVID-19 injured list Tuesday.

Higashioka was out for the last two games due to flu-like symptoms but reportedly tested negative for the virus. He's good to go now, but it will be Jose Trevino who starts behind the plate Tuesday against Baltimore.

Soderstrom has generated a .278 average and .889 OPS across 36 plate appearances over his last eight games with High-A Lansing.

The 20-year-old's numbers were in dire straits as recently as May 13, when he carried a .173/.263/.346 slash line over his first 29 games. However, Soderstrom's current surge has seen him lace five of 10 hits for extra bases, a sample that includes another three home runs to push his season total to seven. The promising prospect's 26.0 percent strikeout rate is currently a tick higher than last season's 24.0 percent figure at Low-A Stockton, but he's also been partly victimized by a .223 BABIP.

Contreras (hamstring) is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game in Cincinnati.

Per Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs manager David Ross said Contreras is on track to avoid the 10-day injured list, but the star catcher will be on the bench for the third game in a row due to a right hamstring strain. P.J. Higgins will fill in for Contreras behind the dish Tuesday.

Raleigh went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in a win over the Athletics on Monday.

Raleigh drew the start at catcher while Luis Torrens shifted to designated hitter, and the former enjoyed some rare offensive success out of the bottom of the order. The 25-year-old backstop continues to find big-league arms hard to master despite consistent production at Triple-A Tacoma, but four of his six hits with the Mariners across 57 plate appearances have left the yard.

Contreras will serve as Atlanta's designated hitter and No. 2 batter in Tuesday's game against the Phillies.

For the second game in a row, the righty-hitting Contreras will stick in the lineup against a right-handed starting pitcher (Kyle Gibson), after he went 2-for-4 with a double and a run while manning left field in Monday's 7-3 loss to Philadelphia. The 24-year-old has now posted an incredible 1.141 OPS through 42 plate appearances with Atlanta this season, and while he's swinging a hot bat, he should see regular starts between left field, DH and catcher. The fact that Contreras has catcher eligibility in most fantasy leagues without having to play behind the plate on a regular basis makes him especially appealing. While he's getting steady at-bats, Contreras looks like a must-roster player in every weekly league that requires two active catchers.

Bethancourt went 2-for-3 with two runs in a loss to the Mariners on Monday.

Bethancourt was effective in setting up some run-scoring opportunities while generating his fourth multi-hit effort of the season. The reserve backstop continues to see semi-regular playing time while Stephen Vogt (knee) remains on the injured list and now carries a .231/.286/.308 slash line across 85 plate appearances.

Maile went 3-for-3 with a walk and three runs scored in Monday's 6-1 win over the Astros.

Maile's first multi-hit game this season was a big one in his first game action since May 17. The catcher had previously recorded four double in his first seven games, but all three of his hits Monday were singles. He's still not seeing much playing time, as Austin Hedges has received the vast majority of the starts behind the dish.

Nido is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Giants.

Nido is the Mets' primary catcher with James McCann out with a wrist injury, but he doesn't appear to have a particularly heavy workload. He'll sit in favor of Patrick Mazeika on Monday for the fifth time in the last 10 games.

Nola isn't starting Monday against the Brewers.

Nola started in the last two games and went 2-for-7 with a double, a run, two walks and two strikeouts. Jorge Alfaro will take over behind the dish and bat ninth Monday.

Wallach was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on Monday.

The 30-year-old joined the Angels while Max Stassi and Kurt Suzuki were on the COVID-19 injured list, but Wallach will head back to the minors now that Stassi and Suzuki are back to full health. Over 10 games in the majors, Wallach hit .156 with a homer, a double, four RBI and three runs.