-
Christian Vazquez C | HOU
Red Sox's Christian Vazquez: Hits two home runs
Vazquez went 3-for-4 with two solo homers in Friday's 28-5 loss to Toronto.
The Red Sox were manhandled Friday but it didn't stop Vazquez from producing one of his best performances of the year. He took Kevin Gausman deep with a solo shot in the fourth inning and then hit another solo home run against Jeremy Beasley in the sixth. It was Vazquez's first multi-homer game of the year and he's up to eight long balls on the campaign. He's slashing .281/.324/.442 with 26 extra-base hits and 38 RBI through 75 games.
-
Danny Jansen C | TEX
Blue Jays' Danny Jansen: Goes deep twice
Jansen went 3-for-6 with two home runs, six RBI, four runs scored and a walk in Friday's 28-5 win over Boston.
Jansen knocked a three-run homer off of Austin Davis in the fourth inning before launching a two-run shot against Darwinzon Hernandez in the sixth. He's up to nine home runs on the year after going deep for the first time since June 1. He's now 6-for-17 (.353) with five runs scored in five games since returning from the injured list. Jansen improved his season slash line to .260/.329/.644 with 10 extra-base hits and 19 RBI through 82 plate appearances.
-
Connor Wong C | BOS
Red Sox's Connor Wong: Optioned to Triple-A
Wong was optioned to Triple-A Worcester on Friday.
With Kevin Plawecki back from the COVID-19 injured list, Boston no longer needed Wong as insurance behind the plate. He has accrued only nine plate appearances in Boston this season, collecting two hits. Yolmer Sanchez was recalled to take Wong's spot on the roster.
-
Austin Hedges C | CLE
Guardians' Austin Hedges: Riding pine Friday
Hedges isn't starting Friday against the White Sox, LaMond Pope of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Hedges is getting an extra day off after the All-Star break having gone 5-for-13 with a run, an RBI and a strikeout over the last five games. Luke Maile is starting behind the dish and batting eighth.
-
Yasmani Grandal C | PIT
White Sox's Yasmani Grandal: Reinstated from IL, starting Friday
Grandal (back) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list and is in the starting lineup Friday versus the Guardians, Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com reports.
After missing over a month with lower-back spasms, Grandal is starting behind the plate and batting fifth against Cleveland. The 33-year-old has produced a career-worst .185 batting average overt 173 at-bats this season, but he went 9-for-25 (.360) with two long balls, five RBI, five runs and 13 walks over a nine-game rehab assignment with Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte.
-
Ben Rortvedt C | LAD
Yankees' Ben Rortvedt: Rehab shifted to Triple-A
Rortvedt (knee) had his rehab assignment transferred to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday.
Rortvedt has been out since May 8 after suffering a left knee injury while rehabbing and has yet to make his season debut for the Yankees following the team acquiring him from the Twins via trade in March. He appears to be nearing a return though, joining Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after he went 1-for-12 with three runs and three walks over four contests with High-A Hudson Valley.
-
Sean Murphy C | ATL
Athletics' Sean Murphy: Crushes big homer Thursday
Murphy went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader split with the Tigers.
After starting at catcher and drawing two walks in the matinee, Murphy shifted to DH for the second game of the twin bill. He produced the biggest hit of the contest, slugging a 447-foot, three-run homer to center field in the sixth inning that provided all of the runs Oakland needed to pull out the win. Murphy has struggled for much of the season but has turned things around in July, batting .333 with two homers, nine runs and nine RBI over 60 at-bats.
-
Eric Haase C | CHW
Tigers' Eric Haase: Not starting nightcap
Haase isn't starting the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Athletics.
Haase drew the start during Thursday's matinee and went 0-for-3 with a run and two walks. Tucker Barnhart is starting behind the dish and batting eighth during the nightcap.
-
Jose Trevino C | CIN
Yankees' Jose Trevino: Not starting nightcap
Trevino isn't starting the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Astros.
Trevino started the first game of the twin bill but went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. Kyle Higashioka is taking over behind the plate and batting ninth.
-
Martin Maldonado C | SD
Astros' Martin Maldonado: Not in lineup for Game 1
Maldonado isn't starting the first game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Yankees, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Maldonado started the final two games ahead of the All-Star break and went 1-for-6 with a grand slam. Korey Lee is starting behind the plate and batting ninth during Thursday's matinee.