MLB Player News

The Cardinals want Herrera (knee) to catch back-to-back games and get his timing down at the plate on his rehab assignment at Triple-A Memphis before he's activated from the 10-day injured list, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Herrera will begin his rehab assignment Thursday with a full game at designated hitter before playing five innings at catcher Friday. He will have to increase his workload and catch back-to-back contests before rejoining the Cardinals' active roster, suggesting Herrera is probably at least a week or so away from returning.

The Rangers placed Higashioka on the 10-day injured list Thursday due to a mild left intercostal strain.

Texas had previously indicated Wednesday that Higashioka was dealing with hamstring soreness, but after further evaluation, the veteran backstop was revealed to be dealing with an injury to the upper half of his body. Manager Bruce Bochy does not expect Higashioka to be sidelined beyond the minimum 10 days, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports. Higashioka had been working in a timeshare behind the plate with Jonah Heim for much of the season, but Heim should see the overwhelming share of starts at catcher while Higashioka is out.

Barnes went 3-for-5 with a run in a 12-7 win against Miami on Wednesday.

Barnes got the start at catcher for the resting Will Smith and finished as one of six Dodgers with multiple hits in the offensive onslaught. Barnes has gotten just 33 plate appearances this season as Smith has dominated work behind the plate, so the former's three-hit effort perked his season batting average up from .185 to .250. It would likely take Smith missing time for Barnes to have any fantasy value in all but the deepest of formats.

Langeliers is not in the lineup for Thursday's game in Texas.

It's a well-earned day off for Langeliers, who caught each of the previous four games for the Athletics. Jhonny Pereda is starting at catcher and batting ninth in the series finale.

Naylor is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Twins.

Naylor started at catcher in each of the last five contests, so he'll be getting a needed rest Thursday as the Guardians wrap up their series against the Twins with a day game after a night game. Austin Hedges will fill in behind the plate, forming a battery with starting pitcher Ben Lively.

Jansen is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest versus the Royals, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.

For the first time this season, Ben Rortvedt will make more starts in a series than Jansen. It will be Rortvedt at catcher and batting ninth on Thursday as the Rays try to avoid the sweep.

Alvarez is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Luis Torrens will get a turn behind the dish while Alvarez rests for the day game after playing all nine innings at catcher in Wednesday night's 4-3 loss. Since returning from the injured list last Friday, Alvarez has gone 4-for-21 with a home run, a double, two walks and three RBI in his first five games of the season.

Moreno is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game against the Mets.

Moreno started at catcher in each of the first two contests of the series, so he'll take a break in Thursday's matinee. Jose Herrera will be behind the plate and bat ninth for the Diamondbacks.

Kelly is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game in Pittsburgh.

Kelly started at catcher in the first two games of the series but will sit out Thursday's afternoon tilt. Miguel Amaya is at catcher and batting seventh in the rubber game of the series.

Jeffers is not in the lineup for Thursday's game in Cleveland.

It's an afternoon game Thursday after Jeffers started at catcher Wednesday night, so the Twins' starting backstop will get a breather. Christian Vazquez is behind the dish and batting ninth in the series finale.