MLB Player News

Manager Craig Counsell said Saturday that the Cubs are giving Amaya extra time off to work through his struggles at the plate, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Amaya is slashing .186/.249/.256 with two home runs and 15 RBI this season, but since June 1 those numbers have dipped to .167/.231/.200. Tomas Nido is starting behind home plate Saturday, and he figures to see more full-time work moving forward while Amaya works on things offensively.

Rortvedt isn't in the Rays' lineup for Saturday's game versus Texas, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

With left-hander Andrew Heaney on the mound for Texas, the lefty-hitting Rortvedt will step out of Tampa Bay's lineup Saturday. Alex Jackson will fill in at catcher and bat ninth.

Fermin went 3-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Friday's 4-2 loss to the Rockies.

Fermin has three multi-hit efforts over his last eight games, but that's a span that dates back to June 20. The backup catcher is making the most of his opportunities this year, slashing .303/.355/.439 with four home runs, 19 RBI, 24 runs scored and nine doubles over 169 plate appearances. Fermin's reliability has allowed Salvador Perez to rest or serve as the designated hitter regularly. Fermin's playing time had declined while Michael Massey was limited to designated-hitter duties, but Massey has been cleared to play the field and should see more time at second base in the second half.

Rogers isn't in the Tigers' lineup for Saturday's game against the Reds.

Rogers has tallied a base hit in three of his last four games, but he will now take a seat for the third time in Detroit's last four contests while Carson Kelly picks up another start behind the plate.

The Mariners designated Zavala for assignment Saturday.

Zavala was selected to the active roster Tuesday to provide additional depth behind the plate, and he'll now be pushed back off the 40-man without appearing in a game for Seattle. The 30-year-old backstop passed through waivers unclaimed when he was DFA'd in June, and it's likely he does so again this time around. Emerson Hancock was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma in a corresponding move.

Alvarez (elbow) is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Pirates.

Alvarez went 1-for-3 in Friday's 14-2 loss to Pittsburgh, and he was also struck in the left elbow by a 99 mph fastball from Paul Skenes in the fourth inning, per Pat Ragazzo of SI.com. Luis Torrens will start behind home plate Saturday and bat sixth against Pirates southpaw Bailey Falter.

Amaya isn't in the Cubs' lineup for Saturday's game versus the Angels.

Saturday will mark the fourth time in five games that Amaya has sat down in favor of Tomas Nido, who will draw the start at catcher and bat ninth. The two backstops are still likely to split reps behind the plate going forward, though it appears Nido has emerged as the preferred option.

Langeliers went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a loss to the Orioles on Friday.

Langeliers' seventh-inning, 412-foot shot to center closed the Athletics' deficit to 3-2, which would turn out to be the final score. It was the 16th homer across 75 games -- and third in the last nine -- for Langeliers, who appears very likely to surpass the career-best 22 he slugged last season if he's able to avoid any extended absences.

Wong isn't in Boston's lineup for Saturday's game against the Yankees, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

After putting together a 17-game hitting streak, Wong has gone 0-for-7 with three strikeouts over his last two games. He'll get a breather Saturday while Reese McGuire starts behind the dish, batting seventh.

Wells isn't in the Yankees' lineup for Saturday's game against the Red Sox.

Wells will get a breather Saturday after going 2-for-4 with an RBI during a loss in Friday's series opener. Jose Trevino will take over behind the plate and bat seventh.