MLB Player News

Kirk went 3-for-3 with two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's win over the Nationals.

Kirk opened the scoring in the first inning with a two-out, two-run double before adding a third RBI with a sacrifice fly in the seventh. The 24-year-old Kirk has gone 6-for-11 with four doubles in his last three games following a 4-for-31 (.129) stretch in his previous 10 contests. While Danny Jansen had been getting the majority of starts behind the plate recently, Kirk could regain some playing time with his hot bat. He's now batting .255 with six homers, 33 RBI, 25 runs scored and a .686 OPS across 331 plate appearances this season.

Perez was scratched from the lineup Wednesday versus the Pirates due to back/neck tightness.

Nelson Velazquez will move into the DH role as Dairon Blanco enters the lineup to cover right field. Freddy Fermin is doing the catching for the Royals, as originally planned. Perez can be considered day-to-day.

Smith is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Diamondbacks.

It's a routine day of rest for Smith, who went 4-for-10 with a solo homer and two runs scored in the first two games of the Dodgers' three-game series versus Arizona. Austin Barnes will catch and bat ninth.

Moreno is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers.

Jose Herrera will get a rare start at catcher as Moreno takes a breather. Moreno, 23, has slashed .340/.380/.638 with three home runs and 12 RBI in 13 games since he returned Aug. 13 from a bout of shoulder inflammation, and he is playing almost every day.

Murphy is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rockies, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Murphy will get a breather for the series finale after he went 4-for-9 with three doubles, two runs and two RBI while starting behind the plate in the first two games at Coors Field. Travis d'Arnaud will form a battery with starting pitcher Darius Vines in the latter's MLB debut Wednesday.

Higashioka is out of the lineup Wednesday at Detroit.

Higashioka slugged a solo home run in the Yankees' defeat of the Tigers on Tuesday, but he'll take a seat Wednesday as Ben Rortvedt handles the catching duties for New York. Higashioka had made three straight starts behind the plate.

Barnhart agreed to a minor-league contract with the Dodgers on Wednesday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

The Dodgers already have Will Smith and Austin Barnes as their catching options at the MLB level and both are healthy, so Barnhart looks as though he'll represent little more than organizational depth for Los Angeles. However, with the active roster expanding from 26 to 28 men in September, Barnhart could be a candidate to join the big club during the final month of the season as a third option behind the dish. Prior to being let go by the Cubs earlier this month, Barnhart slashed .202/.285/.257 with one home run in 123 plate appearances on the season.

Alvarez is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Rangers.

Alvarez has now started just two of the last five games and five of the last 10 contests. The young catcher might be tiring, as he comes into action Wednesday with a .459 OPS in August. Omar Narvaez will handle the catching duties in Wednesday's series finale.

Rogers (hand) will start at catcher and bat ninth Wednesday versus the Yankees in his return to the lineup, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Rogers has dealt with a minor hand issue recently, though he had been available off the bench the past two days. He will catch for starting pitcher Brendan White in Wednesday's contest while Carson Kelly retreats to the bench.

Stallings is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Stallings will get a breather after he started each of the last three games behind the dish. Nick Fortes will handle the catching duties for Miami in the series finale with the Rays.