MLB Player News

Valenzuela is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Brewers.

With Tyler Heineman getting cleared to start behind the dish after a recent bout with back spasms, Valenzuela will head to the bench after he had handled catching duties in each of the prior five games. Since Alejandro Kirk (thumb) is likely to remain on the shelf for at least another month, Valenzuela should stick on the big-league roster a little while longer, but he may not be in store for much better than an even split of playing time behind the plate with a healthy Heineman.

D'Arnaud will start at catcher and bat seventh in Thursday's game against the Yankees, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Top backstop Logan O'Hoppe will get a breather for the day game after playing nine innings behind the plate in a 5-4 loss Wednesday night, paving the way for d'Arnaud to receive a turn behind the plate. D'Arnaud will be making just his fourth start of the season after going 1-for-10 with a double and a run scored through his first three games.

O'Hoppe is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Yankees, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

After going 1-for-4 with a solo home run -- his first of the season -- while catching nine innings behind the plate in a 5-4 loss Wednesday night, O'Hoppe will get a breather for Thursday's matinee game. Travis d'Arnaud will handle catching duties for the Halos in the series finale.

Heineman (back) is starting at catcher and batting ninth Thursday against the White Sox.

It will be Heineman's first start behind the plate since April 8, as Brandon Valenzuela has been handling catching duties for Toronto with both Alejandro Kirk (thumb) and Heineman banged up. Across 20 trips to the plate this season, Heineman is slashing .333/.400/.333 with zero extra-base hits or RBI, three runs scored and a 1:3 BB:K.

Wells is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Angels.

Wells was the catcher in each of the first three games of the series, so he'll get a breather in Thursday's finale. J.C. Escarra will be behind the plate and bat ninth for the Yankees.

Langeliers went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 6-5 win over the Rangers.

Langeliers came out of the gate mashing this season with five homers in his first six contests, but he cooled off quickly. He had gone 10 contests without a long ball prior to Wednesday, batting .250 with two doubles, two RBI and 15 strikeouts in that span. The catcher is now hitting .304 with a .960 OPS, six homers, 12 RBI, 11 runs scored and no stolen bases over 17 games this season. He should continue to see steady playing time between catcher and designated hitter as one of the Athletics' most productive bats.

Naylor went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI in Wednesday's 5-3 loss to St. Louis.

Naylor closed the deficit to one run in the seventh inning with a two-run double. Those were the first RBI of the season for the catcher, who entered the game batting .143. Based on his strong finish to the 2025 season, when Naylor was a key driver (.862 OPS, 16 RBI) in a September push for the playoffs, the Guardians expected him to take a leap in 2026, but that's yet to come to fruition.

Heineman (back) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Brewers.

Brandon Valenzuela will draw a fifth consecutive start at catcher while Heineman recovers from back spasms, but the Blue Jays' willingness to use Heineman off the bench in Tuesday's 9-7 extra-inning win suggests that he could soon be ready to catch a full game. Heineman caught the final three innings of Tuesday's contest and flied out in his lone at-bat.

Fortes is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's tilt versus the White Sox.

Fortes has been the Rays' primary catcher this season, but he will get a breather Wednesday in the second contest of a three-game set. Hunter Feduccia is behind the dish and batting eighth for Tampa Bay.

Quero is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest versus the Rays.

Quero started at catcher in each of the last two games but will get a breather Wednesday. Reese McGuire is handling the catching duties and batting eighth for the White Sox.