MLB Player News

Higashioka is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Orioles.

Higashioka is absent from the starting lineup for a second straight contest, yielding to Luis Campusano behind the dish. Higashioka has gone 5-for-15 with two doubles and a homer since the All-Star break.

Murphy is absent from the lineup for Friday's contest versus the Mets.

Travis d'Arnaud has started each of the first two games of the series against the Mets and has made four starts to Murphy's three since the All-Star break. Murphy had two hits in his last start Wednesday, but before that he had been hitless across his last five contests.

Rortvedt is out of the lineup for Friday's game against Cincinnati.

Rortvedt is absent from the starting nine for a second consecutive game, avoiding a matchup with lefty Nick Lodolo on Friday. Alex Jackson will bat ninth and catch in Rortvedt's place.

Jeffers is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Tigers.

Jeffers will give way to Christian Vazquez behind the dish for Friday's series opener. Jeffers is 3-for-16 with a double since the All-Star break and holds a .773 OPS on the year.

Murphy isn't in Atlanta's lineup for Thursday's game against the Mets.

Murphy will get a breather after going 2-for-4 during Wednesday's game against the Reds, allowing Travis d'Arnaud to catch for lefty Chris Sale during Thursday's series opener.

Smith isn't in the Dodgers' lineup Thursday against the Giants, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Smith will be held out of Thursday's series finale after going 0-for-10 with two walks over the first three games of the series. Austin Barnes will start instead behind the dish, batting eighth.

Rortvedt is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Blue Jays.

Rortvedt will get a breather for the day game after he was behind the plate for the Rays in both of the previous two contests. Alex Jackson will start at catcher in the series finale, batting ninth.

Heim is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game against the White Sox.

Heim caught each of the first three games of the series, so he'll get a breather for the afternoon finale. Andrew Knizner will do the catching as the Rangers try to finish off the sweep.

Kelly is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Guardians.

Kelly will hit the bench for the third time in four games while the Tigers go with Jake Rogers behind the dish. Though Kelly has outproduced Rogers this season, the latter is sporting the hotter bat at the moment, as Rogers will head into Thursday's game having produced an extra-base knock in each of his last three starts.

McCann will start at catcher and bat ninth in Thursday's game against the Marlins.

McCann will get the nod behind the plate for the series finale in Miami while top backstop Adley Rutschman receives a breather for the day game after a night game. Over 142 plate appearances on the season, McCann has provided a .211/.254/.323 slash line with three home runs, 17 runs, 13 RBI and one stolen base. Even if Rutschman were to miss extended time with an injury, McCann would likely be a low-end fantasy option at catcher while occupying a spot at the bottom of the order.