MLB Player News

Ruiz went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Saturday's 3-2 victory over Oakland.

After failing to reach safely in any of his first four at-bats, Ruiz led off the bottom of the ninth and delivered a game-winning solo homer off Lucas Erceg on the first pitch of the frame. The long ball was Ruiz's 13th of the campaign and marked his second in as many games. The backstop is batting 11-for-30 (.367) with five RBI and six runs scored in his last eight appearances.

Murphy isn't in Atlanta's lineup for Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Mets.

Murphy went 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and three runs scored during a 21-3 rout in Game 1, and he'll get a breather for the nightcap. Travis d'Arnaud will take over behind the plate and bat fifth.

Sanchez isn't in the Padres' lineup Saturday against the Diamondbacks.

Sanchez has been alternating starts with Luis Campusano since Monday, and Saturday will mark Campusano's turn to start behind the dish. Sanchez is 6-for-22 with three home runs since the start of August.

Higashioka is catching and batting ninth for the Yankees on Saturday against Miami, marking the third straight game that he has started behind the plate.

Early in the week it appeared that Higashioka had fallen behind Ben Rortvedt on the depth chart after sitting four times in a span of six games, but that trend has since reversed with the former logging three straight starts at catcher. Higashioka may have helped his case the last time he began a contest on the bench, as he came on as a pinch hitter Aug. 8 against the White Sox and slugged a two-run homer. The veteran added three hits and a pair of RBI in Friday's win over the Marlins, so manager Aaron Boone may be riding the hot bat as the Yankees attempt to move into playoff position. While Higashioka hasn't been great this season with a .235/.274/.390 slash line, seven homers, 30 RBI and a 27.7 percent strikeout rate, Rortvedt is slashing a measly .107/.265/.143 with no homers and one RBI, though he does boast an impressive 17.6 percent walk rate.

Maldonado will hit the bench for the second time in three games Saturday against the Angels.

Yordan Alvarez's return from an oblique injury in late July bumped Yainer Diaz from the designated hitter spot and into more of a competition with Maldonado behind the plate. Prior to Alvarez's return, Maldonado started 75 of 102 games behind the plate (74 percent). With Alvarez back in the fold, Maldonado has gotten the nod 10 times in 16 games, or 62.5 percent of the time. That's still enough to make him the clear primary backstop, but his .181/.249/.317 slash line leaves him with minimal fantasy value even in that role.

Naylor is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Rays.

Naylor has struggled so far in August, going 2-for-21 at the plate in eight games, though his 6:6 K:BB over that stretch suggests he's still seeing the ball well. Cam Gallagher will start behind the plate Saturday.

Bethancourt will be on the bench for Saturday's game against the Guardians, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Bethancourt hits the bench after starting four of the last five games. He's seen his playing time slightly increase while Francisco Mejia (knee) is on the injured list, but it will be Rene Pinto who squats behind the plate Saturday.

Rogers will sit Saturday against Boston.

Rogers' lopsided .211/.286/.439 slash line is good for a respectable 98 wRC+, and his 14 homers tie him for 10th among all catchers. Eric Haase will take over behind the plate Saturday.

Wong will sit for the third time in four games Saturday against the Tigers.

Wong has started 77 of Boston's 117 games behind the plate this season, the eight-highest total in the league among catchers. His .244/.298/.389 slash line isn't particularly impressive, though Saturday's starter Reese McGuire owns a similar .267/.305/.367 line, which doesn't signal that the depth chart is about to flip.

Fortes isn't in the Marlins' lineup Saturday against the Yankees.

Fortes has collected a base hit in three of his last five games and will take a seat for Saturday's contest against New York. Jacob Stallings will start behind the dish and bat ninth in Fortes' absence.