MLB Player News

Kirk is not in Thursday's lineup against the Red Sox, Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun reports.

Kirk has been on fire of late, going 7-for-16 with five walks and zero strikeouts over his last six games. Zack Collins will start behind the dish and bat cleanup.

Perez (eye) will start behind the plate Thursday against the Twins, batting cleanup and catching Zack Greinke, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.

Perez was scheduled to catch Tuesday but was shifted to designated hitter due to an eye issue which apparently prevented him from catching but not hitting. He remained at the designated hitter spot Wednesday but is ready to return to catching duties Thursday. He went 3-for-6 with a pair of homers during those two games as a designated hitter.

Higashioka is not in Thursday's lineup against the Tigers.

He is hitting .097 with zero home runs and a 7:1 K:BB in 10 games. Jose Trevino will start behind the dish and bat ninth.

Kirk went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Wednesday's 6-1 win over the Red Sox.

That's now three multi-hit performances in the last five starts for Kirk, who's batting .438 (7-for-16) with a .571 OBP over that stretch thanks to a 5:0 BB:K. The 23-year-old backstop is still looking for his first extra-base hit of the season and has only one RBI and one run scored through 11 contests, but as long as he keeps making contact, Kirk should have a regular spot in the lineup at catcher or DH.

Mejia went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run, a double, an additional RBI and an additional run scored Wednesday against the Cubs.

Mejia contributed to the Rays' four-run first inning with his second home run of the season. Four frames later, he delivered an insurance run with an RBI double. Mejia has split playing time nearly evenly with Mike Zunino behind the plate to begin the season, and he's performed well by logging three multi-hit performances to go along with 10 RBI and five runs scored across seven games.

Barnhart is not in Thursday's lineup against the Yankees.

He'll head to the bench with lefty Jordan Montgomery on the hill for the Yankees. Barnhart appears to be in a strict platoon to start the season. The righty-hitting Eric Haase gets the start behind the dish.

Heim went 0-for-3 in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to Seattle.

After a blistering start to the season, Heim is 0-for-7 in his last two starts. On the bright side, he's started five of 11 games thus far and overall is batting .333 with two home runs and eight RBI. Heim popped 10 homers over 82 games in 2021 but had an ugly .196 average.

Vazquez (illness) was activated from the COVID-19 injured list Wednesday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Vazquez was placed on the COVID-19 IL on Tuesday but will quickly rejoin Boston's active roster. He'll remain out of the lineup Wednesday with Connor Wong starting behind the plate for the Red Sox.

Hedges is out of the lineup for Game 2 of Wednesday's doubleheader versus the White Sox.

Hedges went 1-for-4 with a run scored during the matinee, and it's not a surprise he won't be starting both games of the twin bill. Bryan Lavastida will work behind the plate and bat ninth in the nightcap.

Maldonado isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Angels.

Maldonado will get a breather after he went 0-for-6 with a run, an RBI, a walk and a strikeout in his last two appearances. Jason Castro will start behind the dish and bat eighth.