MLB Player News

Higashioka was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a right oblique strain.

Higashioka's last start came Wednesday, but he apparently suffered an oblique injury during the contest. To take his place as the backup catcher behind Gary Sanchez for the time being, the Yankees signed Erik Kratz to a major-league contract. It's unclear how much time Higashioka will miss.

Leon isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the White Sox.

Leon has been in an 0-for-15 slump over his past six contests, so he'll retreat to the bench for the second time in the past three games. Beau Taylor is starting behind the dish, batting eighth.

Grandal (foot) is starting Saturday's game against Cleveland.

Grandal was held out of Friday's win while dealing with a minor foot issue. However, he'll reclaim his spot in the starting lineup for the second game of the series, batting fourth.

Collins started at designated hitter and went 0-for-3 in Friday's 2-0 win over Cleveland.

Collins, who is still looking for his first hit of 2020, found himself in the lineup for a second straight game as as a replacement for the injured Edwin Encarnacion (shoulder). White Sox manager Rick Renteria is hoping Encarnacion, who took dry swings Friday, can elevate to normal work Saturday. That suggests Collins' window of opportunity will close soon. Prior to his two-game run in the starting lineup, Collins had just nine plate appearances.

Nola went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and an RBI double during Friday's loss to the Rockies.

Nola swatted a two-run homer off Antonio Senzatela in the sixth inning, then added an RBI double in the eighth to cap off a successful night at the plate. The long ball was the first of the year for the 30-year-old backstop, who is slashing .324/.395/.588 across 12 games.

Grandal's absence from the lineup for Friday's game against Cleveland is due to an irritation in his left foot, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

The issue is evidently a minor one, as Grandal will be available off the bench and is expected to return to the lineup Saturday. James McCann starts behind the plate in his absence.

Grandal will sit Friday against Cleveland.

Grandal has handled a heavy workload for a backstop so far this season, as Friday will be just his third time out of the lineup in the team's 14 games. He's been used three times as a designated hitter, which keeps him in the lineup while resting his legs. James McCann takes over behind the plate Friday, while Zack Collins serves as the DH.

Sanchez went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in a loss to Philadelphia on Thursday.

Sanchez's availability was questionable heading into the game after he was plunked on the elbow by a pitch Wednesday, but the 27-year-old started behind the plate and cranked his first long ball of the season with a two-run shot to right field in the seventh inning. It may be premature to announce that Sanchez is out of his slump, however, as the backstop struck out two more times Thursday to bring his total to 18 in 29 at-bats on the season.

Stassi went 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI in Thursday's win over Seattle.

Stassi plated the Angels' fourth run of the game with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning and provided a pair of insurance runs with a homer to left field in the eighth. The long ball was the fourth of the season for Stassi, tied for first among major-league catchers. The 29-year-old is already halfway to his career-high total of eight homers established in 2018.

Jansen is not starting Thursday against the Braves.

Jansen has started all but two games behind the dish this season and is hitting .182 (4-for-22) with a home run and 5:7 BB:K. Reese McGuire is starting at catcher and hitting ninth in this one.