MLB Player News

Kirk is out of the starting lineup Friday against the Twins.

Tyler Heineman will catch and bat ninth versus the Twins and right-hander Sonny Gray. Kirk has posted a relatively disappointing .260/.350/.351 slash line with three home runs and 18 RBI through 51 games (177 plate appearances) this season for the Blue Jays.

Moreno is absent from the lineup for Friday's game againt the Tigers.

Moreno had been slated for a day off Thursday before that game got postponed, and the Diamondbacks have elected to use the opportunity to give him additional rest. Jose Herrera will catch Merrill Kelly in Moreno's place.

Rutschman went 2-for-5 with a run scored in Thursday's 6-3 victory over Milwaukee.

The 25-year-old is now batting .372 (16-for-43) with a .903 OPS over his last 11 games. Rutschman has played nearly every day in his sophomore campaign, serving as the DH when taking a break from catching duties. He's slashing .283/.399/.425 with eight homers, 21 runs scored and 28 RBI while tallying more walks (45) than strikeouts (38).

Alvarez went 2-for-5 with two home runs, a walk and three RBI in Thursday's extra-inning loss to Atlanta.

Alvarez worked as the team's DH in the contest and justified his placement in that role with a pair of big blasts. The backstop has overcome a slow start to the campaign with a powerful 16-game stretch during which he's swatted eight homers, driven in 17 runs, scored 10 times and posted a .283/.333/.774 slash line. Alvarez is now tied for second among big-league catchers with 11 homers on the season.

D'Arnaud went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run, four total runs and two walks in Thursday's 13-10 extra-inning win over the Mets.

The veteran backstop hit one of five long balls for Atlanta in the contest, contributing to the team's comeback with a two-run shot in the eighth inning. The multi-hit effort was d'Arnaud's fifth in 20 games this season. He is the clear No. 2 option behind Sean Murphy on the catcher depth chart but has still provided plenty of offense, slashing .303/.346/.434 with two homers, 10 RBI and 10 runs over 81 plate appearances.

X-rays on Barnes' right wrist came back negative Thursday, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Barnes left Thursday's game against the Reds after taking a fastball to the hand, but he appears to have avoided a major injury. It's possible the Dodgers sideline Barnes for a few days to ensure he's fully-healed his next time out, but he should be able to avoid the IL.

Barnes was sent for X-rays on his right hand Thursday, Matthew Moreno of DodgerBlue.com reports.

The veteran catcher took an Ian Gibaut fastball off his hand in the ninth inning of the Dodgers' 6-0 win at Cincinnati on Thursday and, manager Dave Roberts acknowledged afterward that it "didn't look good, didn't sound good." Los Angeles will have to make a 40-man roster move for a new backup to Will Smith if Barnes requires an IL stint.

Barnes exited Thursday's game against the Reds after taking a pitch off his right hand, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Barnes got struck by an Ian Gibaut fastball in the top of the ninth inning and was replaced at catcher by Will Smith to begin the bottom of the ninth. It could have just been a precautionary move with Los Angeles leading 6-0 and only three outs to get. Barnes finished the day 1-for-4 with an RBI double and a run scored.

Bailey is absent from the lineup Thursday against the Rockies due to neck tightness, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Bailey was supposed to start behind the plate in the Giants' series finale at Coors Field, but Blake Sabol has been pressed into duty instead. It's considered a minor issue and Bailey could be available off the bench.

Murphy is out of the lineup Thursday against the Mets.

This would appear to be a routine day of rest for Murphy, who caught the first two games of Atlanta's three-game series versus New York. Travis d'Arnaud is starting behind the plate and batting cleanup.