MLB Player News

Zavala will sit Saturday against the Yankees.

Zavala hits the bench for the second time in three games. Zack Collins will start behind the plate in his absence.

Wong was optioned to Triple-A Worcester on Saturday, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Wong had been up since Wednesday to provide depth behind the plate while Christian Vazquez was on the bereavement list. He hit an RBI triple in his lone plate appearance and will now return to the minors, with Vazquez activated in a corresponding move.

Vazquez was activated off the bereavement list Saturday and will bat eighth and start behind the plate against the Orioles.

Vazquez had been away from the team since Wednesday, but he'll be back in the lineup to catch Chris Sale in the lefty's return from Tommy John surgery. Connor Wong will return to Triple-A Worcester in a corresponding move.

Barnhart is not starting Saturday's game against the Phillies, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Barnhart has put together a solid offensive stretch, hitting .286 with a pair of home runs and seven RBI in his last 10 games. Tyler Stephenson will start behind the dish and bat fifth in the afternoon contest.

Narvaez is not in the lineup for Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Pirates.

A 3-for-3, four-RBI effort Wednesday raised Narvaez's average to .316 with three home runs and 12 RBI in his last 10 games. Manny Pina is catching Saturday afternoon, with Narvaez presumably gearing up for the nightcap.

Jackson went 1-for-3 with two walks, a three-run home run and a second run scored in Friday's 14-10 win over the Cubs.

The catcher took Dan Winkler deep in the second inning as part of an 11-run eruption by Miami. Jackson is getting a long look behind the plate for the rebuilding Marlins -- Jorge Alfaro started in left field in this one -- but so far the 25-year-old hasn't shown anything but occasional power, slashing .182/.250/.485 through his first 11 games with the club with three homers and 3:16 BB:K.

Smith went 1-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Friday's 6-5 extra-inning win over the Mets.

After bringing home a run with a sac fly in the third inning, Smith played hero by turning around a Jeurys Familia sinker for a two-run shot to lead off the top of the 10th. The 26-year-old backstop has wielded a big stick since the All-Star break, slashing .299/.429/.627 over his last 21 games with six of his 16 homers on the season.

Vazquez is expected to be activated off the bereavement list Saturday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Vazquez, who has been away from the team since Wednesday, could be in line to catch the debut of Chris Sale (elbow), who is also expected to be activated Saturday. Backup catcher Kevin Plawecki has filled in the last three games. Plawecki's batted .400 (18-for-45) since the All-Star break, much better than Vazquez's .227 average, so there could be a more equitable share of the job until Vazquez's bat gets going.

Plawecki went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Friday's 8-1 win over the Orioles.

Plawecki made his third straight start and fifth over the last six games. Christian Vazquez is expected to return from the bereavement list Saturday, so Plawecki's run of starts could end, but the backup catcher has hit well of late, which contributed to an uptick in playing time even before Vazquez was away from the team. Plawecki is 18-for-45 (.400) with six RBI and six runs scored over 16 games since the All-Star break.

Murphy went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a strikeout in a 3-2 win against the Blue Jays on Friday.

Murphy deposited a 1-2 offering from Robbie Ray over the left field fence to give the Mariners an early 2-0 lead. It was the backstop's first long ball since July 22 and he's now 4-for-17 in six August games with a .205/.294/.380 slash line this season.