MLB Player News

Jeffers (thumb) has started to play rehab games in instructional league, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

It sounds like he could return in the next week or so, but there's no definitive timetable for his activation from the injured list. It's also possible he could be shut down with any setback with the Twins falling far out of playoff contention. Jeffers has been on the 10-day IL since undergoing surgery to repair an avulsion fracture of his right thumb July 20.

Maldonado isn't starting Wednesday against the Tigers, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Maldonado is on the bench for the second time in the last four games after he went 1-for-7 with a run and two strikeouts over the last two matchups. Christian Vazquez is starting behind the plate and batting seventh.

Huff went 1-for-4 with a double in Tuesday's 8-7 win over the Athletics.

Huff is in a full-on job share with the switch-hitting Jonah Heim behind the plate, though it isn't based on the handedness of the opposing starter. Huff's started five of the last eight games since being called up. He has just three hits over 18 at-bats, but Heim has been fighting it at the plate since mid-August.

McGuire went 2-for-3 with a solo homer in Tuesday's extra-inning loss to the Yankees.

The backup catcher had a big day at the plate Tuesday, launching his first home run of the season, a shot to right against Yankees ace Gerrit Cole. McGuire also singled in the seventh inning, earning him his first multi-hit game since Aug. 25. He is slashing .269/.306/.347 through 246 plate appearances this season.

Rutschman went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Tuesday's win over Washington.

Rutchsman broke out of a mini slump with two hits, as he was just 2-for-15 in his previous five games entering Tuesday. The rookie has earned regular playing time for Baltimore since being called up in May and has made the most of it, slashing .254/.361/.466 through 382 plate appearances and positioning himself in the discussion for AL Rookie of the Year. He has played great defense as well.

Pinto was recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville ahead of Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader in Toronto, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Pinto was sent down in early August but will rejoin the major-league club Tuesday. He has a .548 OPS in 22 games this year and is unlikely to see much playing time with Francisco Mejia and Christian Bethancourt healthy.

Jansen is not in the lineup for the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against Tampa Bay.

Jansen went 1-for-4 in the Blue Jays' first game Tuesday, and he will get a breather during the second game. In his place, Alejandro Kirk will start at catcher, George Springer will serve as the designated hitter and Jackie Bradley will pick up a start in center field and bat ninth in the order.

Heim is not in the lineup for Tuesday's contest against Oakland.

Heim has missed quite a few starts behind the dish over the past week, sitting four of the past seven games. Sam Huff has been the benefit of this and will start the game as the Rangers' catcher Tuesday, batting seventh.

Thaiss is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Guardians.

Thaiss will retreat to the bench after he went 4-for-11 with a home run and a walk while starting in three of the Angels' last four games. He'll likely be part of a three-headed timeshare at catcher with Max Stassi and Kurt Suzuki moving forward and will also be an option to fill in at first base when top option Mike Ford gets a day off.

Murphy went 2-for-5 with an RBI double and a run in a win over the White Sox on Sunday.

Murphy's fifth-inning two-bagger knocked in Vimael Machin as part of a six-run breakout for the Athletics. The slugging backstop has displayed impressive pop throughout 2022, with Sunday's double serving as his career-best 51st extra-base hit of the season (out of 118 total hits) and helping him to his second two-hit effort in the last three contests.