MLB Player News

Kirk went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in Friday's win over the Tigers.

Kirk doubled home Bo Bichette in the top of the first inning and sent Vladimir Guerrero Jr. home on a single in the sixth. The catcher was able to score on a fifth-inning double from Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Kirk is off to a scorching start to June, batting .429 this month after a hit in his last six games, including four multi-hit performances. In 13 games since May 23, he's only gone hitless once.

Grandal went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk and three RBI on Friday against the Rangers.

Grandal opened up the scoring for the White Sox with an RBI single in the second inning. He followed that up with a two-run double to break a tie in the eighth frame. The performance extended Grandal's hitting streak to a modest four games, during which he's driven in six while also hitting .333. He's dug himself a significant hole after a slow start to the season and is still producing just a .175/.286/.228 line across 199 plate appearances.

Murphy went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's loss against the Guardians.

Murphy picked up his sixth home run of the season on a solo shot in the second inning of Friday's game. It gave the Athletics an early lead, which they held until the bottom of the ninth inning. The home run was Murphy's first since May 27, bringing his season total to seven. He now has a hit in three of his last four games.

Mejia went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts Friday against the Twins.

Mejia is set to step into a more significant role behind the plate after Mike Zunino (shoulder) landed on the injured list Friday. Mejia has four doubles in his last nine games, though he is hitting just .200 in that span with three runs scored. Overall, he is hitting .225/.231/.360 across 91 plate appearances on the season.

Perez went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double and three RBI in Friday's 8-1 win over Baltimore.

Perez knocked a two-run shot off of Bruce Zimmermann in the first inning before doubling in a run in the third. The veteran catcher entered June with an unsightly .191/.226/.362 slash line but he's improved it to .210/.246/.425 as he looks to be breaking out of an early-season funk. In nine games this month, Perez has gone 10-for-34 (.294) with seven extra-base hits and 12 RBI.

Moreno is expected to join the Blue Jays' active roster Saturday and will start behind the plate, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Moreno is with the big-league squad Friday but won't join the active roster right away. It looks as though he'll get the chance to carve out a role in the absence of Danny Jansen, and it wouldn't be a surprise if he hits the ground running, as he's widely considered one of the best prospects in the league. He'll still have to contend with Alejandro Kirk even in Jansen's absence, but Kirk is very much a bat-first backstop, so the two can co-exist if Kirk spends much of his time as the designated hitter.

Heim will sit Friday against the White Sox.

Heim has looked good at the plate this season, hitting .262/.324/.485 with seven homers in 40 games. He'll rest Friday after starting the last two games behind the plate, with Sam Huff getting the nod in his absence.

Garver was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Friday.

The Rangers didn't specify whether Garver had tested positive himself, so it's unclear when he's expected to return to the lineup. He'd been serving as the primary designated hitter since returning from a knee injury in mid-May. The Rangers may simply rotate hitters though that spot in his absence.

Jeffers will sit Friday against the Rays.

Jeffers still has the edge in starts behind the plate compared to Friday's catcher Gary Sanchez, appearing 33 times to Sanchez's 26. That edge may be slipping, however, as it's now been Sanchez behind the plate for four of the last five games.

Trevino is not in the starting lineup for Friday's matchup with the Cubs.

Trevino will take a seat after he went 1-for-3 with a run scored in Thursday's win over the Twins. Kyle Higashioka will take over behind the plate and bat eighth Friday.