MLB Player News

Maldonado isn't starting Saturday against the Rangers.

Maldonado drew two walks in four plate appearances Friday, but he'll take a seat for the second time in the last three games. Dustin Garneau will take over as the catcher Saturday.

Jansen is not in the lineup Saturday against the Orioles.

Jansen has remained the top option behind the plate despite the recent promotion of catching prospect Alejandro Kirk. He's started 10 games behind the plate since Kirk's arrival, while Kirk makes just his sixth start at catcher Saturday. The added competition appears to have galvanized Jansen, as he's hitting .300/.382/.533 in those 10 games.

Grandal will sit Saturday against the Cubs.

Grandal returned from a brief absence due to a hand injury Thursday and started a pair of games, going hitless in both. He'll get a rest in this one, with James McCann taking over behind the plate.

Huff went 3-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs in Friday's 5-4 extra-inning win over the Astros.

Huff went deep twice off Astros starter Jose Urquidy. Those were Huff's second and third homers of the year. The 22-year-old catcher is up to three RBI and four runs scored across 29 plate appearances, but he's also struck out nine times and walked just once.

Plawecki went 3-for-4 with an RBI single and a run scored in Friday's 8-7 extra-innings loss to the Braves.

Plawecki recorded three hits in his second consecutive start behind the dish. He added an RBI single in the 10th inning, but Jeffrey Springs wasn't able to protect the Red Sox's lead. The 29-year-old Plawecki is slashing .342/.381/.468 with a homer, a stolen base, 17 RBI and seven runs scored across 84 plate appearances.

Vazquez is not starting Friday against Atlanta.

Vazquez has a strong .327/.400/.510 slash line over his last 12 games but sits for the second time in three days. Kevin Plawecki gets the nod behind the plate.

Perez will sit Friday against the Pirates.

Perez hits the bench after starting four straight games and seven of the last eight. Sandy Leon will catch Carlos Carrasco in his absence.

Murphy went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Thursday's loss to the Dodgers.

Murphy plated the Athletics' only run with a solo shot to center field in the eighth inning. The long ball was his seventh this season. Murphy has 14 RBI while slashing .234/.364/.458 on the campaign.

Perez went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and another RBI during Thursday's win over the Tigers.

Perez got the scoring started with a two-run shot against Michael Fulmer in the first inning. It was his third long ball over the last two games after the 30-year-old homered twice Wednesday. On the season, Perez has tallied a team-leading 11 home runs while slashing .360/.375/.683.

Manager Aaron Boone said Thursday that who starts at catcher between Higashioka and Gary Sanchez will be a "day-to-day situation," Lindsey Adler of The Athletic reports.

Higashioka has already cut substantially into the struggling Sanchez's playing time, going 7-for-21 with three homers while making six starts behind the dish since Sept.11. Though Sanchez obviously has the edge over Higashioka with regard to postseason experience, it sounds like the catching duties will at least begin as a fluid situation when the Yankees open their wild-card series Tuesday.