MLB Player News

Higashioka went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 6-5 win over the Astros.

Higashioka went yard in the eighth inning, tying the game at 5-5 a half-inning after the Astros had pulled ahead. Higashioka has started three of the last four games behind the dish for the Rangers, perhaps suggesting he's clawing back some playing time from Elias Diaz. Higashioka is batting .220 with a .670 OPS, seven homers, 17 RBI, 19 runs scored, three doubles and no stolen bases over 177 plate appearances.

Rushing is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.

The 25-year-old continues to operate as the Dodgers' primary catcher with Will Smith (neck) on the injured list but will get a breather for the final game before the All-Star break. Eliezer Alfonzo will step in behind the plate Sunday in place of Rushing, who is poised to finish the first half with 10 home runs and an .808 OPS in 60 games, barring an appearance off the bench.

Campusano was scratched from the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays due to abdominal soreness, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

The 28-year-old was penciled in to start behind the plate Sunday but was instead replaced by Rodolfo Duran due to the injury. Campusano will now have five full days to recover before the Padres start the second half of the season Friday in Kansas City.

Kirk is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Kirk will get a day off for the final game of the first half after starting the previous three contests and going 4-for-12 with a walk, two doubles and two RBI in that span. Brandon Valenzuela will step in behind the plate to catch right-hander Kevin Gausman on Sunday.

Diaz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros.

Diaz will head to the bench for the third time in four games while the Rangers go with Kyle Higashioka behind the dish. Though he appeared to have supplanted Higashioka as the Rangers' preferred catcher while Danny Jansen (forearm) remains on the shelf, Diaz may have faded into a timeshare after going 3-for-19 (.158) with a 0:4 BB:K over his last six starts.

Caratini is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.

On the bench for the third time in four games, Caratini has faded back into the No. 2 role at catcher following Ryan Jeffers' recent return from the injured list. While Jeffers was on the shelf, Caratini produced admirably in his stead, slashing .281/.361/.491 with six home runs, 19 RBI and 15 runs over 34 games.

Diaz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Diaz started the previous three games and will sit for the first-half finale after going 3-for-11 with two doubles, a homer, two RIB and two runs during that stretch. Christian Vazquez will take over and bat ninth against Texas lefty MacKenzie Gore.

Rivero (hand) has been catching at the Angels' spring complex in Arizona, MLB.com reports.

Rivero was placed on the 10-day IL on June 10 due to a left hamate fracture. He was given an original return timeline of four weeks, but it appears he'll need a little more time than that. Rivero could be activated shortly after the All-Star break, though it's unclear if he'll still have a spot on the big-league roster since the Angels traded for Tyler Heineman following Rivero's injury and have Travis d'Arnaud (foot) potentially returning by the end of the month as well.

D'Arnaud (foot) caught Yusei Kikuchi's bullpen session July 5 and progressed to running the bases July 10, MLB.com reports.

D'Arnaud had already been swinging a bat and throwing, but the advancement to running the bases is a big step in his recovery from plantar fasciitis in his right foot. If the veteran backstop continues to make steady progress, he could be activated from the 60-day IL by the end of July. In the meantime, Tyler Heineman will remain the backup catcher to Logan O'Hoppe.

Mack is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Guardians.

The Marlins will give Mack a breather after he started behind the plate in the first two contests of the series. Brian Navarreto will fill in at catcher and will form a battery with starting pitcher Tyler Phillips.