MLB Player News

Higashioka (illness) was activated from the COVID-19 injured list prior to Tuesday's game against the Rays, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Higashioka is joined by Aaron Judge in being activated from the COVID-19 IL on Tuesday. Both players had positive tests confirmed July 16, but both will return to the active roster shortly after ending their quarantine periods. Higashioka figures to resume serving as the backup catcher behind Gary Sanchez going forward.

Trevino will sit Tuesday against Arizona.

Trevino has started just once in four games since returning from a bruised forearm Friday. It's unclear whether he's still being eased back into action or he's fallen behind Jonah Heim (who starts Tuesday) on the depth chart.

Barnhart is not starting Tuesday's game against the Cubs.

An 0-for-4 effort Monday lowered Barnhart's average to .167 in eight games since the All-Star break. He has drawn only one walk and driven in just one run in that span. Tyler Stephenson will start behind the dish and bat third Tuesday.

Maldonado went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in Monday's 11-8 loss to the Mariners.

Houston values Maldonado primarily for his ability to control the run game and shepherd the pitching staff, but he provided a rare impact at the plate in the series opener. Though Maldonado's seventh home run of the season helped stake Houston to a 7-0 lead after three and a half innings, the Seattle bats suddenly erupted midway through the contest and allowed the Mariners to complete a come-from-behind victory.

Raleigh went 1-for-4 with a double and three RBI in Monday's 11-8 win over the Astros.

The rookie backstop struck out three times on the night, but he made his lone hit count, as he cleared the bases with a two-bagger in the fourth inning to put the Mariners on the board. Raleigh is now slashing .148/.207/.333 with a 37.9 percent strikeout rate through the first eight games of his big-league career, but the Mariners will likely give him more opportunities to right the ship after his dominating performance in Triple-A (.324/.377/.608 with a 12.6 percent strikeout rate) earlier this season.

Haase went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the Twins.

The backstop has a seven-game hitting streak going, although he doesn't have a multi-hit performance during that stretch. Haase continues to put a charge in the ball -- seven of his 16 homers on the year have come in July, including three in his last five starts.

Realmuto went 1-for-5 with a stolen base in Monday's 6-5 win over Washington.

The catcher worked a double-steal with Jean Segura after both got aboard with singles in the first inning. Realmuto continues to provide modest speed with six steals in nine attempts. The 30-year-old is slashing .264/.358/.436 with 10 home runs, 39 RBI and 37 runs scored across 316 plate appearances. He's hit safely in seven of his nine games (9-for-38) since the All-Star break.

Diaz is out of the lineup Monday against the Angels.

Diaz went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk Sunday and will continue to alternate starts behind the plate with Dom Nunez, who is batting ninth Monday.

Collins will remain on the bench Monday against the Royals.

Collins started three games in a row behind the plate last week but now finds himself on the bench for the second game in a row. Seby Zavala will catch Dallas Keuchel in his absence.

Kirk is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Red Sox.

Kirk and Reese McGuire have alternated starts behind the dish since Kirk joined the roster Friday. McGuire will take his turn Monday, but Kirk has gone 3-for-7 with a double in the two games since his return, raising his season OPS to .829 through 19 games, so he's likely to keep earning opportunities.