MLB Player News

The Rangers optioned Huff to Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday.

While serving as the Rangers' backup catcher and as a depth option at first base and designated hitter, Huff had started in only three of the Rangers' last nine games. With top DH Mitch Garver (illness) returning from the COVID-19-related injured list Tuesday, Huff's opportunities were likely to grow scarcer, so the Rangers opted to return the 24-year-old to Round Rock to play on a more regular basis. In a corresponding move, the Rangers called up Meibrys Viloria from Round Rock to take over as the No. 2 backstop behind Jonah Heim.

Narvaez will sit Tuesday against the Cardinals.

Narvaez's off days typically come against lefties, but he'll sit here against righty Jack Flaherty. Victor Caratini gets the start behind the plate.

Nido will sit Tuesday in Houston.

Nido is the clear No. 1 option behind the plate in Queens in the absence of James McCann (wrist), starting 10 of the last 11 games. However, Nido will get a rest Tuesday with Patrick Mazeika taking over at the position.

Gomes is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game in Pittsburgh.

Gomes will sit for the second game in a row and looks like he'll be more of a part-time player after he received more work behind the plate last week while manager David Ross showed more of a willingness to deploy Willson Contreras as a designated hitter. Contreras should still pick up starts as a DH every now and then, but Ross appears content to rotate a number of players at that spot in the lineup rather than reserving it strictly for Contreras or Gomes. Ian Happ will handle the non-defensive role Tuesday while Contreras starts behind the plate.

Casali will sit Tuesday against Atlanta, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.

Casali hasn't started back-to-back games since June 10 and 11 as he deals with a nagging hamstring issue. He started Monday's series opener but will sit in favor of Austin Wynns on Tuesday.

The Rangers reinstated Garver (illness) from the COVID-19-related injured list Tuesday. He'll serve as Texas' designated hitter and No. 5 batter in the series opener against the Phillies.

Fellow backstop Sam Huff was sent to Triple-A Round Rock to clear room for Garver, who hasn't yet been cleared to resume catching while he works to regain full strength in his right elbow following a stint on the IL back in May. Until Garver's elbow isn't hindering him while he throws behind the plate, he's expected to start on a near-everyday basis as the Rangers' DH. He was sidelined for about a week and a half following a positive COVID-19 test, but Garver has since regained conditioning and looked good during his one-game rehab assignment at Round Rock over the weekend.

Trevino is out of the lineup Tuesday against the Rays.

Trevino doesn't appear to be the true No. 1 option behind the plate at the moment, as he and Kyle Higashioka have alternated starts over the last 14 games. Higashioka starts Tuesday, but expect Trevino back Wednesday if the pattern continues.

Barnhart will sit Tuesday against Boston.

Barnhart has started just three times in the last seven games, while Tuesday's catcher, Eric Haase, has started five times over that stretch, including once as the designated hitter. While Barnhart's .529 OPS suggests he may deserve to see his playing time slip, Haase's .605 mark isn't much better, so the recent shift in workloads may be a temporary one.

Heineman is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cubs.

Heineman will be getting some routine maintenance after he was behind the plate for four of the Pirates' last five contests. Michael Perez will catch for starting pitcher Roansy Contreras on Tuesday.

The Astros promoted Diaz from Double-A Corpus Christi to Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Diaz makes the jump to Triple-A after slashing .316/.367/.504 with nine home runs and 48 RBI across 267 plate appearances at Corpus Christi. At Sugar Land, he'll be part of a catching group that includes one of the Astros' other top prospects in Korey Lee. Since Diaz also made starts at first base as well as the corner-outfield spots during his time at Corpus Christi, Lee still appears likely to see most of the work behind the plate.