MLB Player News

Higashioka went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's loss to the Royals.

It was largely a frustrating game for the backstop, as he struck out twice and committed two errors. However, Higashioka came through with a fourth-inning, two-run blast that temporarily gave the Yankees a lead. The long ball was Higashioka's first since June 22. He has a career-high seven homers on the season but is slashing a paltry .185/.261/.411.

Grandal (knee) is close to beginning a rehab assignment, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

The 32-year-old resumed running the bases over the weekend, and he's about the enter the final stages of his rehab program. Grandal has been sidelined since early July due to a torn tendon in his left knee that required surgery, so he should require a handful of games in the minors during the rehab stint. Seby Zavala has taken over primary catching duties in his absence while Zack Collins continues to work in a secondary role.

Stassi is out of the lineup for Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Blue Jays.

Stassi went 1-for-4 in Game 1, and it's not a surprise he won't be starting both ends of the twin bill. Kurt Suzuki will start behind the plate in the nightcap for Los Angeles.

McGuire is out of the lineup for Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Angels.

McGuire started the matinee and went 0-for-1 with a pair of walks, and it's no surprise he won't be starting both games of the twin bill. Alejandro Kirk will work behind the plate in the nightcap.

Raleigh is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rangers.

After a 1-for-4 performance Sunday, Raleigh is now hitting .182 with two doubles and six RBI in his last 10 games. Tom Murphy is catching and batting eighth Tuesday.

Soderstrom has been sidelined since July 23 after taking a foul tip to the collarbone, Melissa Lockard of The Athletic reports.

The catching prospect was hit by the foul ball July 20, although he did play July 23 and went 2-for-5 with a home run. It's unclear what injury Soderstrom is dealing with and whether he's at all close to returning to the field for Low-A Stockton, where he's hit .306 with 12 home runs and 49 RBI in 57 games this season.

Garver isn't in the lineup for Monday's game against the White Sox.

Garver will be out of the lineup for the second time in the last three games as he works through a slump in which he's gone 1-for-15 with a solo home run and five strikeouts across his last three appearances. Ryan Jeffers will start at catcher and bat seventh.

Murphy went 1-for-4 with a two-run double in a win over the Rangers on Sunday.

Murphy laced a first-inning two bagger that snapped a 1-1 tie by plating Josh Harrison and Jed Lowrie. The 26-year-old backstop is on a bit of a roll offensively, as he's now reached safely in nine straight games, a stretch during which he owns an impressive .267/.405/.433 slash line and 18.9 percent walk rate across 37 plate appearances.

Hedges isn't in the lineup for Monday's game against Cincinnati.

Hedges has gone 5-for-16 with three runs, an RBI and six strikeouts across his last four appearances, and he'll be on the bench for the second time in the last three games. Wilson Ramos will start at catcher and bat seventh.

Plawecki went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, three RBI and a run Sunday in the Red Sox's 9-8 loss to the Blue Jays.

Though Christian Vazquez is entrenched atop the depth chart at catcher, Plawecki's hot bat could allow him to earn a larger share of playing time behind the dish, or perhaps more opportunities as a designated hitter versus left-handed pitching. In 12 second-half games thus far, Plawecki has gone 14-for-32 (.438 average) with three doubles and a 3:4 BB:K.