MLB Player News

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

Rortvedt will be on the bench for the fourth game in a row and is unlikely to be anything more than the Yankees' No. 3 catcher over the final month of the season after New York called up prospect Austin Wells from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday. Wells will make his third straight start Sunday and is expected to get a long look as the team's top backstop down the stretch. Since receiving a call-up of his own from Triple-A on July 21, Rortvedt has slashed an abysmal .087/.192/.217 over 22 games.

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

Higashioka and Ben Rortvedt had largely been operating in a timeshare at catcher since the All-Star break, but both backstops are likely to see their opportunities take hits down the stretch after the Yankees called up catching prospect Austin Wells from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday. Wells is making his third straight start behind the dish Sunday and should see the majority of the starts at catcher for the rest of the season.

Realmuto went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and a stolen base in Sunday's 4-2 win over Milwaukee.

Realmuto went back-to-back with Alec Bohm off Wade Miley in the seventh inning Sunday, putting the Phillies ahead 3-2. The 32-year-old Realmuto has now homered in consecutive games while batting .333 (14-for-42) over his last 12 contests. Overall, Realmuto's slash line is up to .255/.318/.467 with 17 homers, 61 runs scored, 53 RBI and 13 stolen bases across 461 plate appearances this season.

Stephenson went 3-for-3 with a two-run homer and an additional RBI in Sunday's loss against the Cubs.

Stephenson put the Reds ahead 4-3 in the second inning with a two-run blast off Jameson Taillon. It was Stephenson's 11th homer of the year, setting a new career high, and his third in his last 13 games. Overall, the 27-year-old catcher is slashing .252/.333/.382 with 51 runs scored and 47 RBI this season.

Moreno is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.

Moreno started the first two games versus Baltimore but will take a seat for Sunday's series finale. Jose Herrera will step in behind the plate and bat eighth.

Pinto will start at catcher and bat ninth in Sunday's game against the Guardians, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Pinto seems to have moved into a timeshare at catcher with Christian Bethancourt, as the two backstops have now alternated turns behind the plate over the past 12 games. Since his call-up from Triple-A Durham on July 21, Pinto is hitting .295 but hasn't offered much production in other categories (one home run, no stolen bases, five RBI and two runs over 46 plate appearances).

Bethancourt is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Guardians, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Rene Pinto will get the nod behind the dish in the series finale in Cleveland. Bethnacourt and Pinto have alternated starts at catcher over the past 12 games and look to be stuck in a near-even timeshare for now.

The Angels placed Stassi (personal) on the restricted list Sunday.

Stassi was initially placed on the 15-day injured list after suffering a hip injury late in spring training before he was transferred to the 60-day IL in June. Though the Angels have noted that Stassi is ostensibly healthy again and "in a position to resume activities," he's voluntarily choosing to sit out the remainder of the 2023 season while he tends to a serious family medical issue that has prompted him to conduct his rehab away from the team since the end of spring training. In 2024, Stassi will be entering the final season of the three-year, $17.5 million extension he signed with the Angels in May 2022, and Los Angeles also holds a $7.5 million club option and $500,000 buyout of his contract for the 2025 season.

Sanchez is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Sanchez is in the midst of a five-game hit streak during which he's gone 6-for-17 with a double and two homers, but he finds himself on the bench for the second time in San Diego's past three games. Luis Campusano has also hit well with an .856 OPS this season and will work behind the plate Sunday.

The Angels reinstated Thaiss (shoulder) from the 10-day injured list Sunday.

After landing on the IL on Aug. 25 with right shoulder inflammation, Thaiss spent the minimum amount of time on the shelf and didn't require a rehab assignment prior to being activated. He'll be one of three catchers on the Angels' 28-man roster, but even though top backstop Logan O'Hoppe is getting the day off for Sunday's series finale in Oakland, Thaiss won't receive the starting nod behind the plate. Instead, Chad Wallach will catch for Angels starter Tyler Anderson.