MLB Player News

Kirk will be on the bench Friday against the Reds.

Kirk has held onto regular playing time even after Danny Jansen returned from an oblique injury, starting twice behind the plate and twice as the designated hitter through six games. He's hitting .311/.373/.467 with more walks (five) than strikeouts (four) over his last 14 games, but he'll hit the bench here with Jansen behind the plate and George Springer serving as the designated hitter.

Heim is expected to get most of the starts behind the plate with Mitch Garver expected to serve only as a designated hitter for the foreseeable future, per Kennedi Landry of MLB.com.

Garver was activated off the injured list this week after recovering from a right forearm strain. He was the DH on Thursday while Heim went 1-for-4 as the starting catcher. It's uncertain when Garver will be cleared to begin a throwing program, which means Heim should get most of the opportunities behind the plate over the next few games, although Sam Huff also remains on the big-league roster as another catching option.

Garver started at designated hitter and went 0-for-3 with a walk in Thursday's 5-1 loss to Houston.

Garver, who served time on the injured list with a right forearm strain, is expected to serve as the DH for the foreseeable future, per Kennedi Landri of MLB.com. He has yet to begin a throwing program, and there currently is no plan to use him in the field until he's cleared to throw. Jonah Heim should soak up most of the starts behind the plate until Garver is deemed ready.

Maldonado went 1-for-4 with a double and three RBI on Thursday against the Rangers.

Maldonado smacked a three-RBI double in the eighth inning to put the Astros up 5-1. Though he has a disastrous .122/.308/.244 line for the season, Maldonado has at least one hit in five of his last seven starts. He's delivered five RBI and four runs scored in that span.

Heim is starting Thursday's game against the Astros.

Although Mitch Garver (elbow) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Thursday, he hasn't yet been cleared to resume throwing. Garver will be able to serve as the designated hitter now that he's back on the active roster, but Heim should continue to see plenty of playing time behind the dish until Garver is cleared to play the field.

Garver (elbow) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Thursday.

Garver had been on the IL since May 10 due to a right flexor sprain, but he recently appeared in two rehab games at Triple-A Round Rock and went 1-for-5 with three runs, three walks and three strikeouts. The 31-year-old hasn't yet been cleared to resume throwing, but he'll be able to serve as the designated hitter now that he's been activated, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports. He'll hit sixth in Thursday's series opener in Houston while Jonah Heim bats fifth and handles catching duties.

Raleigh is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Red Sox.

Raleigh, who popped his third home run of the season in Wednesday's 5-1 win over Toronto, will retreat to the bench as the Mariners kick off a four-game series in Boston. The Mariners called Raleigh up from Triple-A Tacoma when Tom Murphy (shoulder) was placed on the 10-day injured list May 7, but Raleigh could find himself back in the minors by the weekend. Murphy appears on track to return from the IL at some point during the series in Boston, and with Luis Torrens also on hand, the Mariners may not have the luxury of keeping Raleigh around as a third catcher.

Moreno was removed in the top of the third inning of Triple-A Buffalo's game against Syracuse on Thursday due to an apparent left elbow injury, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Moreno was struck in his non-throwing elbow by a pitch during his first plate appearance of the day in the bottom of the first inning, but he stayed in the game and was back behind the plate for the second inning. However, he may not have felt quite right, as he was pulled from the contest just one frame later. The Blue Jays' top position prospect, Moreno entered Thursday with a .323/.376/.398 batting line over 101 plate appearances with Buffalo this season.

Grandal isn't starting Thursday against the Royals.

Grandal started in the last four games and went 4-for-16 with a homer, two RBI, a walk and two strikeouts. Reese McGuire will start behind the dish and bat eighth during Thursday's series finale.

Trevino is out of the lineup for Thursday's game in Baltimore, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.

He'll hit the bench after starting behind the plate in three of the Yankees' last four games. Kyle Higashioka replaces Trevino as the Yankees' starting catcher in the series finale.