MLB Player News

Heim (wrist) took live batting practice again Friday in San Francisco, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Heim has been participating in daily BP sessions since Tuesday and is now expected to return to the Rangers' active roster in the early part of their upcoming homestand, which begins Monday. The 28-year-old catcher had produced a strong .816 OPS with 14 homers and 70 RBI through 90 games this season for Texas when he was diagnosed July 28 with a partially torn tendon sheath in his left wrist.

Thaiss is out of the lineup Friday against the Astros.

Chad Wallach will start behind the plate and bat ninth as the Angels take on right-hander Justin Verlander. Logan O'Hoppe (shoulder) could soon return and claim the majority of the playing time at catcher for the stretch run.

Casali (foot) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Friday.

Casali landed on the injured list July 24 with a bruised left foot and is now set to begin the final stage of his recovery process. The Reds were carrying three catchers prior to Casali getting injured, so it's possible he gets optioned to Louisville upon being reinstated so Cincinnati can maintain a traditional two-catcher roster.

Jansen (hand) is not in Friday's lineup against the Cubs.

After getting hit by a pitch Thursday, Jansen initially stayed in the game. He would later exit and was diagnosed with a right hand contusion after X-rays came up negative. Alejandro Kirk will start at catcher Friday as Jansen remains day-to-day.

Perez (thumb) started at catcher and played five innings in Triple-A Las Vegas' loss to the River Cats on Thursday, going 0-for-1 with a run. He was also hit by a pitch.

Perez took four plate appearances as the designated hitter Tuesday before stepping in behind the dish for the first time on his rehab assignment Thursday. Assuming he experiences no residual effects from his first time playing defense in over a month, Perez may up his playing time in his next rehab game.

Murphy isn't in Atlanta's lineup Friday against the Mets, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Murphy will catch a breather Friday despite being on a four-game hitting streak. Travis d'Arnaud will take over behind the plate and bat fifth while Murphy rests.

Stephenson isn't in the Reds' lineup Friday agaisnt the Pirates.

Stephenson is just 1-for-16 with six strikeouts across his last five games, so he'll get a day off to regroup. Luke Maile will fill in behind the plate and bat ninth.

Rutschman went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional RBI in Thursday's 5-4 win over the Astros.

Rutschman has multiple hits in six of his nine games in August, going 13-for-36 (.361) with two homers and 10 RBI for the month. The catcher's blast Thursday came on Houston starter Hunter Brown's third pitch of the game. Rutschman is up to a .276/.373/.440 slash line with 16 homers, 57 RBI, 58 runs scored, 19 doubles and a triple over 110 contests this season.

Realmuto went 2-for-2 with a two-run homer and two walks in Thursday's 6-2 victory over Washington.

The 32-year-old backstop swatted an opposite-field, two-run homer off Joe La Sorsa in the seventh inning, extending Philadelphia's lead to 6-1. Realmuto's season-long batting average now sits at .246, well below his career .273 mark, but he's added 14 home runs, 22 doubles, five triples, 46 RBI, 48 runs and 12 steals through 99 games this year.

Knizner went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Thursday's 5-2 victory versus the Rays.

Knizner got the scoring started in the contest, belting a two-run shot in the fourth inning. He added a single for his fourth multi-hit effort over his past seven games. Knizner has been red-hot during that stretch, notching at least one hit in each contest and posting a .444 batting average along with four homers, nine RBI and five runs.