MLB Player News

Smith went 3-for-3 with three solo home runs, two walks and four total runs scored in Friday's 8-5 win over the Brewers.

Smith hit just two homers in June, so he's already off to a fantastic start in July. The catcher went to the opposite field for his first-inning blast before pulling his solo shots in the third and seventh innings. Smith is up to a .276/.349/.502 slash line with 14 homers, 53 RBI, 45 runs scored, 18 doubles and one triple over 73 contests this season.

Grandal went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and two runs scored Friday against the Mets.

Grandal has provided very little offensive punch this season, and his solo home run in the eighth inning was his first long ball since May 13. It was also just his fourth multi-hit performance of the campaign. Despite his struggles, Grandal remains a fixture in the lineup, having started five of Pittsburgh's last seven games.

Higashioka went 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Friday's 10-8 win over the Diamondbacks.

Higashioka has launched five of his 10 homers this season over his last nine games. He went deep in the sixth inning of this contest to stretch the Padres' lead to 7-2. The catcher is at a .220/.254/.541 slash line with 25 RBI, 15 runs scored, three doubles and a triple over 114 plate appearances. Higashioka's playing time is likely to decrease with Luis Campusano (thumb) getting activated from the injured list Friday, but the former played well enough in the latter's absence to justify a timeshare role behind the dish.

Contreras went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI in a 7-6 win over the Nationals on Friday.

Contreras hit an RBI single in the fifth inning and tied the game with a solo home run in the ninth. The catcher went just 4-for-23 in June after returning from the injured list but has five hits and two home runs in his past four games. On the season, he is hitting .265 with eight home runs, 17 RBI and 25 runs scored over 178 plate appearances.

The Padres reinstated Campusano (thumb) from the 10-day injured list Friday.

A bruised thumb has kept Campusano on the IL since June 22, though he's managed to go 2-for-15 with four RBI in four rehab games at Single-A. He'll take a seat Friday while Kyle Higashioka catches for Randy Vasquez, but Campusano is slated to return behind the plate Sunday.

Campusano (thumb) will be activated from the 10-day injured list Friday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Campusano has been on the injured list since June 22 due to a left thumb injury and has played in four rehab games with Single-A Lake Elsinore, going 2-for-15 with a homer and four RBI. The 25-year-old backstop said he will resume catching for the Padres on Sunday, per Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune, at which point he could take over for Kyle Higashioka as the Friars' primary backstop. Campusano has slashed .234/.282/.371 across 220 plate appearances this season.

Murphy (knee) will catch a live bullpen session Saturday in San Francisco, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Murphy will likely be joined by right-hander Keaton Winn (elbow) for Saturday's session. Murphy was transferred to the 60-day injured list May 15 due to a sprained left knee, and it took a month before the 33-year-old catcher could resume baseball activities. Saturday's session is another step in Murphy's rehab program, and he could return to the Giants before the All-Star break barring any setbacks. He appeared in 13 games prior to his injury, going 4-for-34 with one home run and two RBI.

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

Rogers went 1-for-3 and drove in two runs during Detroit's loss to Minnesota on Thursday. He'll now get a breather during Friday's series opener while Carson Kelly starts at catcher, batting fourth.

The Reds selected Wynns' contract from Triple-A Louisville on Friday.

Wynns was DFA'd on Tuesday but will rejoin the active roster Friday after Luke Maile (back) was placed on the 10-day IL. He'll serve as Tyler Stephenson's primary backup while Maile is shelved.

Mailey was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday due to a herniated disc in his back.

Maile was removed from Thursday's contest with what was initially deemed a hip injury, but further evaluation revealed he's dealing with a herniated disc. The injury and subsequent IL stint means that Maile won't be eligible to return until after the All-Star break. Austin Wynns was brought up from Triple-A and should operate as Tyler Stephenson's primary backup.