MLB Player News
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Jose Trevino C | CIN
Rangers' Jose Trevino: Starts after Heim gets scratched
Trevino will start at catcher and bat ninth Monday against the Red Sox.
Trevino had been in line to receive Monday off, but he was a late addition to the lineup after No. 1 catcher Jonah Heim was scratched due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols, per Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News. Considering that the Rangers have placed four players on the COVID-19 injured list within the past four days, Heim could be a candidate to move to the IL ahead of Texas' three-game series in Cleveland that begins Tuesday. If that's the case, Trevino would be in store for at least a short-term run as Texas' top backstop.
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Jonah Heim C | ATH
Rangers' Jonah Heim: Scratched due to health protocols
Heim was scratched from the lineup for Monday's game against Boston due to health and safety protocols, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
It's unclear if Heim has tested positive for COVID-19 or been exposed to someone who has, or if he's merely feeling sick and the team scratched him just to be safe. Jose Trevino will take over behind the plate in his absence.
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Christian Vazquez C | HOU
Red Sox's Christian Vazquez: Resting Monday
Vazquez is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Rangers, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Though Vazquez caught each of the Red Sox's last three games, he had the benefit of a de facto off day Sunday, when Boston's series finale with Texas was postponed due to the expected impact of Hurricane Henri. Vazquez will still get another day to rest up, allowing Kevin Plawecki to work in a battery with starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi on Monday.
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Eric Haase C | SF
Tigers' Eric Haase: Catching in rehab game Tuesday
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Haase (abdomen) is "doing quite well" and is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday at Triple-A Toledo, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
The Tigers plan to have Haase catch Tigers starter Matthew Boyd (triceps) on Tuesday in the first of what's expected to be two or three rehab games for Detroit's top backstop. Haase looks on track to make his return from the 10-day injured list when Detroit begins its homestand Friday with a three-game series versus the Blue Jays.
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Danny Jansen C | TEX
Blue Jays' Danny Jansen: Bound for Triple-A on Tuesday
Jansen (hamstring) is expected to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Jansen hasn't progressed as quickly as expected from the right hamstring strain he sustained July 21, but just over a month later, he's finally reached the final phase of his recovery program. Neither Reese McGuire nor Alejandro Kirk has ran away with the No. 1 catching job while Jansen has been out, but that doesn't mean that the 26-year-old will have a clear path to the top gig once he returns. Though Jansen is valued for his defense, his 62 wRC+ on the season places him 49th among the 58 catchers who have logged at least 100 plate appearances.
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Francisco Mejia C | TB
Rays' Francisco Mejia: Knocks three-run double
Mejia went 2-for-4 with a three-run double in Sunday's 9-0 win over the White Sox.
Mejia drilled a clutch three-run double in the sixth inning to give the Rays a huge 6-0 lead. It was just his third extra-base hit this month and his first RBI since Aug. 10. He's sporting a .752 OPS with 28 RBI through 218 plate appearances.
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Yasmani Grandal C | PIT
White Sox's Yasmani Grandal: Ruled out for road trip
Manager Tony La Russa said Grandal (knee) won't return from the 10-day injured list during the White Sox's upcoming four-game series in Toronto that concludes Thursday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
La Russa stressed that Grandal hasn't suffered a setback in his recovery from the left knee surgery he required in early July; the White Sox simply aren't keen on rushing him back early while he rebuilds strength in the knee. Grandal will likely remain on assignment at Triple-A Charlotte through at least the end of the week before the White Sox re-evaluate him for a potential activation. Through his first seven rehab games between Charlotte and Double-A Binghamton, Grandal has gone 9-for-20 with a home run and three RBI.
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Sean Murphy C | ATL
Athletics' Sean Murphy: Resting Sunday
Murphy is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants.
Yan Gomes will step in for Murphy, who went 2-for-4 with a run scored in Saturday's 6-5 loss. Murphy has seen a lighter share of the catching duties since Gomes was acquired ahead of the trade deadline, but the former still appears to be Oakland's No. 1 backstop.
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Sean Murphy C | ATL
Athletics' Sean Murphy: Multi-hit effort in loss
Murphy went 2-for-4 with a run in a loss to the Giants on Saturday.
Murphy has been on a solid run at the plate through most of August, as Saturday's production brought his slash line over the last nine games to .286/.394/.536 with four doubles, a home run, seven RBI, five walks and five runs. The young backstop's .225 season average does have plenty of room for improvement, but his .321 on-base percentage and .423 slugging percentage are both serviceable enough.
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Cal Raleigh C | SEA
Mariners' Cal Raleigh: Takes seat Sunday
Raleigh is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros.
Tom Murphy will be behind the plate for the series finale after Raleigh caught five of the Mariners' previous six games. Despite the run of steady playing time, Raleigh has yet to carry over much of his offensive success from Triple-A Tacoma over to the majors. Through his first 86 MLB plate appearances, Raleigh is hitting .177 with six extra-base hits (one home run, five doubles) and 30 strikeouts (34.9 percent rate).