MLB Player News

Pinto was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The 25-year-old was promoted in late July when Francisco Mejia (shoulder) landed on the 10-day IL, and Pinto will return to Triple-A after Mejia was reinstated Friday. Pinto has appeared in 22 games for Tampa Bay this year and has a .206/.239/.309 slash line and 43.7 percent strikeout rate in 71 plate appearances.

Mejia (shoulder) was activated from the 10-day injured list Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Mejia made one rehab appearance with the Rays' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate this week and has been cleared to rejoin the big-league roster after spending the 10-day minimum on the shelf. The 26-year-old should step in as Tampa Bay's primary backstop since Mike Zunino (shoulder) is out for the year.

Haase is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Rays.

Haase had been operating as Detroit's primary catcher, but he'll hit the bench Friday for the fourth time in the past six games. Tucker Barnhart will start behind the plate to form a battery with Bryan Garcia.

Murphy went 1-for-5 with a two-run double and a run in a win over the Angels on Thursday.

Murphy collected his sixth and seventh RBI over the last five games -- including his fifth in the last two -- with his third-inning two-bagger. The backstop did strike out in three other plate appearances, but he's been an asset for the Athletics and fantasy managers since the All-Star break with a .279/.380/.651 slash line, four doubles, four home runs, 11 RBI, seven walks and nine runs across the last 12 games.

Perez went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and an additional RBI in a 7-3 win against the Red Sox on Thursday.

Perez gave Kansas City the lead with his RBI single in the fifth inning and later extended it in the seventh with a controversial three-run home run that went off the padding at the base of the left-field foul pole. The 32-year-old has batted a mediocre 7-for-28 since returning from a thumb injury July 29, though four of those hits have left the yard. Perez's 15 home runs tie him for the MLB lead at catcher despite significant missed time and is slashing .215/.253/.458.

Maldonado went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Thursday's 6-0 win over the Guardians.

Maldonado's playing time is on the decline with Christian Vazquez joining the Astros at the trade deadline. That didn't matter Thursday, as Maldonado hit a two-run double and a solo home run for his third multi-hit effort in his last nine games. The veteran catcher is slashing .178/.242/.356 with 11 homers, 33 RBI, 27 runs scored and 11 doubles through 80 contests. Still, fantasy managers shouldn't expect Maldonado to receive much more than two starts a week with a more productive catcher in Vazquez around to handle the starting role.

Jansen isn't starting Thursday's game against the Twins.

Jansen started the last four games and went 1-for-13 with two RBI and two strikeouts. Alejandro Kirk will start behind the dish while Cavan Biggio enters the lineup at second base Thursday.

Vazquez is out of the lineup for Thursday's game at Cleveland.

Vazquez made his first start for Houston on Wednesday and went 0-for-4 with a strikeout, and he'll take a seat for Thursday's series opener. Martin Maldonado will work behind the plate versus the Guardians.

Pinto isn't starting Thursday against the Tigers, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Pinto went 1-for-3 with a strikeout Wednesday against the Blue Jays and will take a seat for the second time in the last three games. Christian Bethancourt will take over behind the plate and bat ninth.

Higashioka went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and a double in Wednesday's loss to Seattle.

The Yankees weren't able to muster much offense in the contest, so Higashioka's seventh-inning two-run shot made only a small dent in a big Seattle lead. Nonetheless, it was a positive development for the catcher, whose previous homer came nearly a month ago. Higashioka has six long balls on the season, four of which came during a four-game stretch in mid-June.