MLB Player News

Higashioka went 2-for-4 with a walk, a double, a solo home run and two runs scored Thursday against Cleveland.

Higashioka drew the start in the opening game of the team's series against Cleveland and played a big role in the victory. He began the third inning with a leadoff double and later came around to score. Five frames later, he provided an insurance run with a solo homer -- his third long ball of the campaign. Higashioka figures to draw backup reps at catcher, but he's taken advantage of his opportunities to hit .353/.376/1.000 across 21 plate appearances this season. While that's not sustainable, it could force the Yankees to consider giving him more playing time.

Stassi (thumb) is traveling with the Angels on their current road trip and could be close to returning to action, Taylor Blake Ward of Locked on Angels reports.

Stassi is eligible to come off the injured list Friday, and it looks like he may not be far from a return. The veteran backstop hasn't played since April 12, when he left a game against the Royals with left thumb irritation. Kurt Suzuki has been filling in as the primary catcher for the Angels in Stassi's stead.

Wallach will start at catcher and bat eighth in Thursday's lineup against the Giants, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Wallach was expected to see an uptick in playing time after Jorge Alfaro (hamstring) was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday. However, Sandy Leon drew the first start in Alfaro's absence, so it remains to be seen how the playing time behind the dish will be split.

Caratini isn't starting Thursday's game against the Dodgers.

Caratini will retreat to the bench for the second time in the last three games after he went 1-for-4 with a double, one RBI and two strikeouts in Wednesday's loss to Milwaukee. Luis Campusano will start behind the plate, batting seventh.

Sanchez is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against Cleveland, Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News reports.

Kyle Higashioka will form a battery with Domingo German while Sanchez takes a seat for the series opener. Sanchez was behind the dish for both of the Yankees' games against Atlanta earlier in the week, going 0-for-7 between the contests to drop his season average to .200.

Leon went 2-for-3 with a run scored in Wednesday's win over the Orioles.

The veteran catcher joined the roster after Jorge Alfaro (hamstring) landed on the IL and made an immediate impact in his Miami debut. Leon is expected to split time with Chad Wallach behind the plate in Alfaro's absence, but if he keeps collecting hits, he could seize the starting role in the short term.

Contreras went 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored in Wednesday's 16-4 win over the Mets.

Contreras has been playing well lately, as he's now 11-for-30 across his last eight games with four home runs, six RBI and seven runs scored. The catcher has primarily been batting second for the Cubs, so he should be able to keep scoring runs in bunches, though he might not see as many RBI opportunities as he did in previous seasons when he batted a bit lower in the order.

Narvaez went 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 4-2 victory over the Padres.

Narvaez is the hottest offensive player for the Brewers right now. His two-run home run off Keone Kela ended up being all the Brewers needed to win. The catcher is batting .396 with an OPS of 1.059, and he sports a .467 average with a home run and four RBI in his last five games.

Kelly is not in Wednesday's lineup against the Reds.

He is hitting .375 with a .543 OBP, three home runs and a 10:11 K:BB in 32 at-bats this season. Stephen Vogt will start at catcher and hit sixth.

Barnhart is not in Wednesday's lineup against the Diamondbacks.

Tyler Stephenson gets the start behind the dish and will hit eighth.