MLB Player News

Grandal's (knee) rehab assignment will be moved to Triple-A Charlotte beginning Tuesday.

Grandal began a rehab assignment with Double-A Birmingham last Wednesday, and the backstop wound up going 4-for-11 with a walk, two RBI and two runs scored across four games. It's not entirely clear how many games the club plans on having him play with Charlotte, but assuming he continues to progress well, the 32-year-old figures to have a chance of being activated from the 10-day IL by the end of the week. Grandal should resume as Chicago's primary catcher once he's activated.

Higashioka is on the bench for the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader with the Red Sox.

Higashioka will likely be behind the plate for the nightcap, but his run as the Yankees' No. 1 catcher is over after top backstop Gary Sanchez (illness) was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list prior to the twin bill. While starting in 10 of the Yankees' past 12 games, Higashioka went 4-for-39 with a home run, five RBI and two additional runs.

The Yankees reinstated Sanchez (illness) from the COVID-19 injured list Tuesday.

Sanchez will be back in action for the Yankees for the first time in nearly two weeks after he was forced to go into quarantine following a positive COVID-19 test. The 28-year-old backstop felt fine physically following a one-game rehab assignment at Double-A Somerset over the weekend, so he should be ready to reclaim No. 1 catching duties for the Yankees heading into their seven-game slate this week. Expect Sanchez to sit out one half of Tuesday's doubleheader with the Red Sox, however.

Wong was optioned to Triple-A Worcester on Monday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports

It's the third straight day with a roster transaction for Wong, and this time he'll return to Triple-A with Christian Vazquez and Kevin Plawecki healthy. Wong has appeared in six games for the Red Sox this season and is 4-for-13 with a triple, a double, an RBI and three runs.

Garver is not in the lineup Monday against Cleveland.

Garver started the past three games and will head to the bench for the series opener versus Cleveland. Ryan Jeffers will work behind the plate and bat eighth for Minnesota.

Murphy is out of the lineup Monday against the White Sox.

Murphy started the past two games and will receive a day off after going 1-for-8 with a double and an RBI. Yan Gomes will start behind the plate in his place Monday.

Maldonado isn't starting Monday against the Royals, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Maldonado went 0-for-2 with a walk in Sunday's loss to the Angels, and he'll be on the bench for the second time in the last three games. Jason Castro will start at catcher and bat eighth.

Kirk went 1-for-4 with a two-run double in Sunday's 8-3 win over the Mariners.

Picking up his fourth start in six games, Kirk provided a big two-out extra-base hit in the third inning to help the Blue Jays dig out of an early 1-0 hole. Given his recent workload, Kirk appears to have moved ahead of Reese McGuire as Option 1A behind the plate for Toronto.

Perez went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in Sunday's 7-2 loss to the Cardinals.

Perez provided the Royals' only meaningful offense Sunday, clocking a mammoth 450-foot blast in the eighth inning to break up the shutout. It was his 30th long ball of the season and the first time he's reached that mark in his career. The All-Star catcher improved his slash line to .277/.310/.522 through 471 plate appearances. Perez has gone 7-for-20 (.350) with three home runs and six RBI over the last five games.

Hedges went 2-for-5 with a two-RBI double and two runs scored in Sunday's 11-0 win over Detroit.

The catcher knocked in a pair during Cleveland's six-run rally in the second inning before scoring on a Jose Ramirez home run. Hedges also scored in the third after hitting a single. The 28-year-old has recorded multiple hits in four of his last 10 games, but he's also gone hitless in five of those contests. He's posted a .178/.216/.267 slash line with five home runs, 21 RBI, 20 runs scored and two doubles through 209 plate appearances.