MLB Player News

Stassi (forearm) is starting at catcher and batting cleanup Friday against the Astros, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

He missed one game after getting hit on the arm by a pitch Wednesday, but it was apparently a minor bruise. Stassi is hitting .277/.351/.508 with four home runs in 18 games since the All-Star break.

Raleigh is not in Friday's lineup against the Blue Jays.

Tom Murphy gets the start behind the dish with lefty Robbie Ray on the hill for Toronto. The Mariners face lefties on Saturday (Hyun Jin Ryu) and Sunday (Steven Matz) as well, so Raleigh could play sparingly, if at all, this weekend.

Heim remains on the bench for Friday's game against the Athletics.

Heim will sit against southpaw Cole Irvin. He and Jose Trevino have been in a loose platoon over the past few weeks. Since his return from the injured list in late July, it's been Trevino behind the plate against all but two lefties the Rangers have faced, while Heim has started against all but one righty.

Murphy will sit Friday against the Rangers.

Murphy handled a very heavy workload in July, starting 19 of 24 games behind the plate. He's had far more frequent rest in August following the deadline-day acquisition of Yan Gomes. Gomes will get the nod Friday, meaning both backstops have now started five times so far this month.

Realmuto (head) is starting at catcher and batting cleanup Friday versus the Reds, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Realmuto was pulled from Wednesday's game after taking a pair of foul tips off his mask and didn't start Thursday, but he passed the concussion protocol and will only miss the one contest. The 30-year-old is slashing .364/.400/.636 with two homers, three doubles, 10 RBI and seven runs through nine games in August.

Murphy went 2-for-4 with a double, three runs scored, two RBI and two walks Thursday against Cleveland.

Murphy had a productive day, which began with a two-run double in the second inning. He also came around to score multiple runs in a game for the sixth time this season. Murphy has been productive of late, as he's now driven in at least one run in three consecutive contests and has recorded at least one hit in each of his last nine starts. Overall, Murphy has maintained a .224/.318/.419 line with 13 home runs, 36 runs scored and 52 RBI across 355 plate appearances.

Zavala went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer and a walk Thursday against the Yankees.

Zavala hit one of three White Sox homers off of New York starter Andrew Heaney, taking the left-hander deep to center field in the fourth inning to give Chicago a 7-3 lead. It was the fourth homer in 21 games this season for Zavala, who had entered the day stuck in a 3-for-20 (.150) rut to start the month of August. He'll be headed either to a bench role or back to Triple-A Charlotte once starter Yasmani Grandal (knee) completes his rehab assignment.

Stassi (forearm) is not in Thursday's lineup but is feeling better since being hit by a pitch Wednesday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

The team seemed to strike an optimistic tone regarding Stassi's injury, as manager Joe Maddon said he may be available as a defensive replacement off the bench Thursday. Stassi also took swings in the cage prior to the game, per Daniel Guerrero of MLB.com. Despite the optimism, it remains unclear whether Stassi will be able to return at some point during the team's weekend series against the Astros, or if he'll require a trip to the injured list. Kurt Suzuki is drawing the start behind the plate and batting ninth Thursday.

Stephenson went 3-for-5 with a solo home run in Thursday's win over Atlanta.

Stephenson took Edgar Santana deep in the ninth inning for his seventh homer of the year. He also picked up a double and a single en route to a season-best six total bases. It's been perhaps overshadowed by the breakouts of teammates Jesse Winker and Jonathan India, and the second-half resurgence of veteran Joey Votto, but the 24-year-old Stephenson has emerged as an important bat in the Reds lineup, slashing .287/.373/.429 with 35 RBI in 295 plate appearances.

Diaz isn't starting Thursday's game against the Giants, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

Diaz struggled at the plate across his last two starts, as he went 1-for-8 with four strikeouts. Dom Nunez will start behind the dish and bat eighth.