MLB Player News

Sanchez was added to the lineup for Saturday's game against the Athletics, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

The 29-year-old was initially slated to get a day off Saturday, but he'll serve as the designated hitter and bat fourth after Trevor Larnach (undisclosed) was scratched. Sanchez has hit .231 with three doubles, two runs and an RBI over his last seven games.

Murphy isn't starting Saturday against the Twins, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Murphy started in the last five games and went 2-for-17 with a run, an RBI, three walks and five strikeouts. Christian Bethancourt will start behind the plate and bat sixth.

Moreno went 4-for-5 with a double and four RBI for Triple-A Buffalo on Friday against Durham.

The 22-year-old catching prospect hasn't shown a lot of power yet this season -- he has five extra-base hits through 17 games for Buffalo, all doubles -- but otherwise Moreno is doing everything expected of him at the plate, slashing .313/.353/.391 on the year with 15 RBI. The Blue Jays aren't in a rush to promote him, but he still seems likely to make his big-league debut at some point over the summer.

Mejia went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored Friday against the Mariners.

Mejia was in the lineup for the first time since being activated from the COVID-19 list Thursday, having missed two weeks of action. He showed no signs of rust, knocking a single and coming around to score in his first plate appearance. Though Mejia has started only seven games this season due to his lengthy absence, he has at least one hit in five of those contests.

Sanchez isn't starting Saturday's game against Oakland.

Sanchez started in the last four games and went 4-for-13 with two doubles, a run, a walk and three strikeouts. Ryan Jeffers will take over behind the dish and bat seventh.

Manager Scott Servais said Friday that Murphy (shoulder) will be out for a while, Corey Brock of The Athletic reports.

Murphy was removed from Friday's loss to the Rays after sustaining a dislocated left shoulder, and the backstop will presumably land on the injured list following Servais' update. Cal Raleigh is a likely candidate to rejoin the major-league club as catching depth behind Luis Torrens.

Maldonado went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk Friday against the Tigers.

Maldonado entered Friday's game hitless in his last 12 at-bats -- spanning five games -- while striking out at a 50 percent clip. However, he ended that dreadful stretch with a solo home run in the second inning to record his second long ball of the season. Maldonado is hitting just .088/.209/.211, though he remains Houston's primary catcher.

Murphy left Saturday's game against the Rays with a dislocated left shoulder.

He was recently dealing with neck spasms, and now he will presumably need a stint on the injured list. Luis Torrens replaced him behind the dish. Cal Raleigh could be summoned from Triple-A if Murphy is indeed set for an extended absence.

Murphy (neck) is starting at catcher and batting ninth Friday against the Rays.

The 31-year-old was scratched from Thursday's lineup with neck spasms, but his absence will be limited to only one game. Murphy has a .946 OPS for the season but is 0-for-8 with three walks and six strikeouts across his last six contests.

Vazquez is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the White Sox, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Vazquez is 4-for-22 over his past eight games and finds himself on the bench for the second straight contest. Kevin Plawecki, who has also struggled offensively this season with a .333 OPS, will start behind the plate in his place.