MLB Player News

Kirk went 3-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored in Tuesday's loss to the Orioles.

The All-Star catcher recorded three more hits Tuesday, as he continues to show why he was the AL's starting backstop in the Midsummer Classic. Kirk's excellent performance has been no fluke as he is above the 90th percentile among all MLB hitters in strikeout rate, average exit velocity, xwOBA and xBA. Expect Kirk to continue putting up strong ratios and counting stats batting routinely in the heart of interim manager John Schneider's lineup.

Ruiz went 2-for-3 with two homers, four RBI and a walk in a 6-5 win Tuesday against the Cubs.

Ruiz took Marcus Stroman deep twice, launching a solo shot in the second and adding a three-run blast in the fourth. Last season he hit 24 combined homers between Triple-A and the majors, but the power stroke has been absent this year until recently. He has three homers in his last seven contests after knocking just three balls out of the park in his first 81 games. For the season, he has a .247/.307/.359 line.

Realmuto went 2-for-4 with one double, one homer, two RBI and one run scored in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Marlins.

The veteran catcher provided much of the offense for the Phillies, driving in the first run of the game with a double in the first inning and another run with a solo shot in the fourth. Tuesday also marked his third straight multi-hit effort, as he increased his average to .348 since the beginning of July. After hitting just .239 over the first three months of the season, Realmuto has turned things around and owns a respectable .268/.339/.455 line for the campaign.

Bart is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Padres, according to Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com.

Bart reached base 10 times over the Giants' last five games, but manager Gabe Kapler decided it was time for a day off. Austin Wynns will get the nod behind the plate Tuesday night.

Herrera was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Tuesday.

Herrera owns a .457 OPS at the big-league level this season, so Arizona decided to send him down and replace him on the roster with Cooper Hummel. Herrera was working as the backup catcher behind Carson Kelly, and that role will now likely be filled by Daulton Varsho.

Sanchez is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Dodgers, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.

Sanchez has a .482 OPS in 11 games since the All-Star break and will head to the bench Tuesday for the third time in Minnesota's past four contests. Sandy Leon will receive another start behind the plate.

Rodriguez was promoted to Double-A Altoona on Tuesday, Mike Persak of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Rodriguez earned a shot at the next level by going 21-for-43 (.488) with seven homers and 12 RBI over his last 12 games at the High-A level. The 22-year-old is one of two talented catching prospects in Pittsburgh's organization, and he should see the bulk of the starts until the other one -- Henry Davis (wrist) -- is ready to return.

Jansen is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Orioles.

Jansen will get a breather after he went 0-for-2 with a walk and an RBI while starting at catcher in Monday's 7-4 loss in the series opener. Alejandro Kirk will spell Jansen behind the plate.

Mejia is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Brewers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Mejia will head to the bench for the series opener in Milwaukee while Christian Bethancourt gets a turn behind the plate. Since he returned from the 10-day injured list Friday, Mejia has gone 1-for-6 with a double, three walks and a run across two starts at catcher, while Bethancourt has caught in the Rays' other two contests.

Haase is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Guardians.

Haase will sit for the third time in four games and appears to have moved back into a timeshare at catcher with Tucker Barnhart, who will be behind the plate in the series opener. Though Haase is regarded as the superior hitter, he hasn't helped his cause for poaching work from Barnhart by going 6-for-32 with 14 strikeouts over his last 12 games.