MLB Player News

Smith (neck) is scheduled to catch five innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday night, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

It will be Smith's first game action since he went down in early June due to neck inflammation. The Dodgers will ease him into action, working him up to catching a complete game. The goal is to have the 31-year-old ready by Sept. 1, which is when MLB rosters expand.

The Rockies optioned Fulford to Triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old was up with the Rockies the past week but will return to Triple-A since Hunter Goodman (shoulder) was activated from the injured list Tuesday. Fulford hasn't made much of an impact offensively when up with Colorado this year with a .174/.253/.275 slash line in 43 games.

The Rockies reinstated Goodman (shoulder) from the 10-day injured list and he is batting third Tuesday against the Nationals, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Goodman ended up missing just the 10-day minimum due to the left shoulder strain he sustained in mid-August. The 26-year-old homered twice in his first game of the month but since then has struggled, going 5-for-31 (.161 average) with one homer and 10 strikeouts in his past nine contests.

The Rangers announced Wednesday that Higashioka (forearm) began throwing out to 60 feet, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

After being placed on the 10-day injured list July 21 due to a right flexor strain, Higashioka was shut down from throwing for nearly three weeks before being cleared to start ramping back up when Aug. 11 imaging on his forearm revealed improved healing. Assuming his initial throwing went well, Higashioka could start throwing to bases at some point this week. The veteran backstop will need to complete a rehab assignment prior to being activated and is likely at least a couple weeks away from rejoining the Rangers.

Crooks is absent from the lineup for Tuesday's tilt versus the Orioles.

Crooks started at catcher each of the last three times the opposition had a righty on the bump, but he will take a seat Tuesday as the Orioles hand the ball to Chris Bassitt. Ivan Herrera will do the catching for the Cardinals.

Rustchman is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game in Miami.

The Red Sox have been careful not to overwork Rutschman since he came off the injured list, as this will be his fourth day off in the last two weeks. Connor Wong will do the catching and will bat ninth for Boston.

Ruiz is absent from the lineup for Tuesday's contest versus the Rockies.

Ruiz will get a break after starting at catcher each of the past two days. Harry Ford will be behind the plate and will bat seventh for the Nationals on Tuesday.

Alvarez is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Brewers.

It's the second straight game out of the lineup for Alvarez, who has split his time between catcher (10 starts) and designated hitter (five starts) this month. Luis Torrens will be behind the plate, and Eric Wagaman will slot in at DH for the Mets on Tuesday.

Rodriguez (elbow) went 0-for-4 in Triple-A Sacramento's 3-1 loss to Tacoma on Sunday.

Before Sunday, Rodriguez hadn't played since July 31 due to right elbow neuritis. Although he failed to record a hit in his return to game action, he's trending in the right direction after beginning a rehab assignment. The Giants are plagued by injuries right now, and the versatile 24-year-old could carve out a steady role once he's reinstated.

Kelly went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Monday's 7-0 win over Arizona.

Kelly followed Michael Conforto's two-run homer with a solo shot over the left-field fence in the sixth inning, as the duo went back-to-back. After a poor July, the veteran catcher has looked better at the plate in August, slashing .273/.310/.418 with two homers, eight RBI and seven runs across 16 contests this month. Overall, Kelly is hitting .262/.343/.379 with eight homers, 45 RBI and 45 runs in 98 games this season.