MLB Player News

Sanchez's MRI on his sore abdomen showed "minimal signal," according to manager Rocco Baldelli, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Sanchez was scratched from Friday's lineup with the injury and won't start Saturday, either, but it looks as though he may avoid a trip to the injured list. Jose Godoy's contract was selected to give the Twins a backup to Ryan Jeffers behind the plate, but Minnesota seemingly would have placed Sanchez on the injured list as the corresponding move if the team thought he'd be out for an extended period.

Godoy's contract was selected by the Twins on Saturday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Godoy was designated for assignment shortly before Opening Day, but he's needed again just over two weeks into the season with Gary Sanchez battling abdominal tightness. Godoy will back up Ryan Jeffers for now, but Sanchez hasn't been placed on the injured list, so Godoy's stay on the active roster could be brief. Jhon Romero (biceps) hit the injured list in a corresponding move.

Sanchez (abdomen) is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the White Sox, according to Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic.

The results of the MRI Sanchez underwent on his midsection have not been revealed, but he will be held out of a second straight contest. Ryan Jeffers will get another start behind the plate in Sanchez's place.

Heim went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, two runs scored and an RBI in Friday's 8-1 win over the A's.

Facing the team that traded him in the 2021 offseason, Heim was a constant thorn in the side of Oakland's pitchers. The 26-year-old catcher has three multi-hit performances in his six starts so far this season, slashing .381/.458/.714 with two homers and nine RBI. If he keeps raking, the Rangers may move Mitch Garver to DH more often to make room behind the plate for the better defender in Heim.

Perez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a 4-1 loss to Seattle on Friday.

Perez took Seattle starter Chris Flexen deep to left in the sixth to account for Kansas City's lone run in the game. The backstop's power spree has carried over into 2022 as he's one of five players with five home runs thus far, though he's batting just .222 with only one walk.

According to Yankees manager Aaron Boone, Rortvedt (oblique) is "doing pretty well, but [is] not ready to play in any games yet," Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Rortvedt's oblique strain was a known issue prior to the Yankees trading for him in mid-March, and he has gradually been working his way back from the injury since that time. The backstop has been cleared fully for defensive work and recently underwent imaging that showed no trace of the strain, but he was briefly backed off his hitting work after experiencing discomfort. Boone indicated Friday that Rortvedt is "over the injury now," so he could progress to batting-practice drills soon. A return in early May appears to be plausible but not certain.

Sanchez was scratched from Friday's game against the White Sox with abdominal tightness and is awaiting the results of an MRI, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.

The 29-year-old was a late scratch from Friday's lineup due to the abdominal issue, and his availability going forward remains in question. Ryan Jeffers is poised to work as Minnesota's primary catcher should Sanchez be forced to miss any time. The team would also need to add another catcher to the 40-man roster to fill the backup role.

Sanchez was scratched from Friday's lineup against the White Sox, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Sanchez was slated to work behind the plate and bat seventh Friday, but he was removed from the starting nine shortly before first pitch for unspecified reasons. Ryan Jeffers will enter the lineup at catcher in his place for the Twins.

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

Pinto missed out on Tampa Bay's Opening Day roster and has a .729 OPS through 12 games at Triple-A this season. He'll join the Rays for Friday's series opener with the Red Sox after Francisco Mejia tested positive for COVID-19 and was placed on the injured list. Pinto should operate as the backup to Mike Zunino and appears likely to make his major-league debut in the next couple days.

Mejia was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Friday after testing positive for the virus, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Mejia went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, three RBI and two runs Wednesday against the Cubs, and he'll now be unavailable coming off Thursday's scheduled off day. Mike Zunino should continue to work as Tampa Bay's primary catcher, and Rene Pinto was promoted to serve as the backup.