MLB Player News

Heim is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rockies.

Heim had started in four of the Athletics' past six games, but he'll give way to Sean Murphy behind the dish in the series finale. Despite his recent surge in playing time, Heim still looks like the No. 2 backstop behind Murphy, who has began to heat up of late with a .391 average, four home runs and a 6:6 BB:K in September.

Casali will start at catcher and will bat ninth Wednesday against the Pirates.

He'll be behind the dish for the second time in the series while top backstop Tucker Barnhart rests. Barnhart's greater familiarity with the Cincinnati pitching staff and his ability to control the run game may be enough to maintain his spot atop the depth chart, but if the 24-26 Reds fade from the playoff race during the final week of the season, manager David Bell could hand more starts to Casali or Tyler Stephenson.

Barnhart is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Pirates.

Curt Casali will check in behind the dish while Barnhart sits for the second time in the series. The Reds value Barnhart mostly for his defensive work, but he's been an easy out at the plate this season, slashing .207/.301/.390 over 93 plate appearances. His sluggish bat could prompt the Reds to sit him more frequently over the final week and a half of the regular season in favor of Casali, or even prospect Tyler Stephenson.

Sanchez went 1-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and four RBI in Tuesday's 20-6 rout of the Blue Jays.

His fourth-inning shot off Anthony Kay was one of six Yankee homers on the night. Sanchez has three hits in the last four games, which counts as a hot streak for him this season -- he's slashing a woeful .131/.248/.344 through 39 contests with eight home runs, 19 RBI and a 15:55 BB:K.

McCann went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, two RBI and two runs scored Tuesday against the Twins.

McCann drove in his first run of the contest with an RBI double in the third inning. Four frames later he popped a solo home run, his sixth long ball of the season. He has a strong .329/.389/.595 line to this point in the campaign, but has only 90 plate appearances with Yasmani Grandal getting the majority of the playing time behind the dish.

Diaz went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Athletics.

Diaz gave the Rockies a lead they wouldn't lose with his blast off Athletics starter Sean Manaea in the fifth inning. That homer was Diaz's first of the year, and the RBI were his first as well. He also has two runs scored and a .250/.341/.361 slash line across 41 plate appearances.

Maldonado went 2-for-4 with a double and a solo home run Tuesday against the Rangers.

Maldonado tallied two extra-base hits in the contest, the first a double to lead off the seventh inning. One frame later, he clubbed his fifth homer of the season -- a solo shot against Jimmy Herget. It was his first home run since Sept. 3, though he still has a respectable .248/.370/.416 line with 18 runs scored and 21 RBI across 137 plate appearances to this point in the campaign.

Murphy isn't in Tuesday's lineup against the Rockies.

Murphy took a seat for Monday's nightcap, and he'll do so once again for the series opener against Colorado. Jonah Heim will start behind the plate Tuesday.

Realmuto (hip) remains on the bench Tuesday against the Mets.

Realmuto left Saturday's game against the Marlins with hip discomfort and hasn't played since. It's not clear when he's expected to return. Andrew Knapp starts behind the plate Tuesday.

Jansen isn't in Tuesday's lineup against the Yankees.

Jansen will take a seat for the third time in the last five games as he continues to alternate starts behind the plate. Alejandro Kirk will start at catcher Tuesday.