MLB Player News

Heim went 2-for-3 with two solo home runs in Texas' 4-1 win over the Red Sox on Friday.

Swatting a pair of home runs is not a bad way to collect your first two hits of the season, and with that, Heim now has two multi-HR games across his five seasons in the majors. His first home run in the third inning Friday barely cleared the right-field wall, but his fifth-inning shot was a bit more convincing at 417 feet. Although Heim didn't start the season opener, he's expected to remain the Rangers' 1A this season and is showing early signs of a bounce-back campaign after finishing 2024 with a .603 OPS.

Amaya is not in the Cubs' starting lineup against the Diamondbacks on Friday.

Amaya drove in five runs during Thursday's 10-6 win over Arizona. He'll get a break Friday while Carson Kelly serves behind home plate and bats ninth against Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly.

Rogers isn't in the lineup for Friday's game versus the Dodgers.

Rogers will take a seat Friday after going 1-for-3 with a walk on Opening Day. Dillon Dingler will catch for Jack Flaherty instead and bat seventh.

Diaz isn't in the lineup for Friday's game versus Atlanta.

Diaz went 2-for-3 with a strikeout during San Diego's Opening Day victory, but he'll give way behind the plate to Martin Maldonado in the team's second game of the season.

Smith isn't in the lineup for Friday's game against the Tigers, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

After collecting a base hit in each of the Dodgers' first three regular-season games while drawing five walks, Smith will get a breather Friday. His absence will allow Austin Barnes to make his first start of the year behind the plate while batting ninth.

Moreno is absent from the lineup for Friday's game against the Cubs.

Moreno started Opening Day and reached base three times while scoring a pair of runs. However, he will yield to Jose Herrera for the second game of the series as Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo looks to get one of his reserves some work early in the season.

Higashioka is absent from the lineup for Friday's game versus the Red Sox.

Higashioka was behind the dish for Thursday's opener and went 1-for-4 with an RBI double, but he will yield to Jonah Heim for the second game of the series. The catching duties for the Rangers are likely to be split fairly evenly between the two players this season.

Hicks is starting at catcher and batting seventh in Friday's contest versus the Pirates.

After Nick Fortes got the call behind the plate in Thursday's opener, Hicks will do the catching Friday in what will be his major-league debut. The 25-year-old was the second pick in the Rule 5 draft over the offseason.

Fortes is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Pirates.

Fortes started Thursday's opener and in his last plate appearance was awarded a triple on a ball Oneil Cruz misplayed in center field. He'll begin the second game of the series on the bench as Liam Hicks makes his major-league debut.

The Padres selected Maldonado's contract from Triple-A El Paso prior to Thursday's 7-4 win over Atlanta. Maldonado was used off the bench and struck out in his lone plate appearance.

Maldonado secured his spot on the Opening Day roster as a backup catcher over Luis Campusano, who was optioned to Triple-A over the weekend. Elias Diaz received the nod behind the dish in Thursday's opener and is expected to dominate the playing time at catcher this season, with Maldonado likely being limited to one or two starts per week.