MLB Player News

The Rays are expected to designate Rortvedt for assignment Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Rortvedt is slashing just .100/.194/.117 through 67 plate appearances on the season and currently sits as the third catcher on Tampa Bay's roster following the acquisition of Matt Thaiss from Chicago on Tuesday. Rortvedt's place on the depth chart makes him the obvious choice to lose his spot once Thaiss is activated, and the former's poor performance could cause him to pass through waivers unclaimed.

Manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday that Amaya (oblique) will likely be out for another 4-to-6 weeks, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Amaya landed on the injured list Sunday with a strained left oblique, and the results of his MRI confirmed that he will need to spend an extended period of time on the IL. Counsell said the team hopes to have the 26-year-old back before the All-Star break. Until then, Carson Kelly (illness) will likely see the bulk of starts behind the dish with Reese McGuire filling in occasionally.

O'Hoppe (head) isn't in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Yankees, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.

O'Hoppe had to make an early exit from Monday's contest after getting hit in the head by a backswing in the eighth inning. Manager Ron Washington said after the game the decision to pull the 25-year-old backstop was precautionary, but O'Hoppe will now be forced to miss Tuesday's game while Travis d'Arnaud catches and bats fifth.

Kelly (illness) was omitted from the Cubs' lineup against the Rockies on Tuesday.

Kelly did not play Sunday and Monday after being scratched from Sunday's lineup due to an illness. This will be the third straight game Kelly is absent due to the illness, but he may be available off the bench, as Miguel Amaya (oblique) is on the 10-day injured list. Reese McGuire has the start behind the dish and is batting ninth.

Realmuto is batting eighth for the first time since 2022 on Tuesday against Atlanta, Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic reports.

The veteran backstop has a .684 OPS this season and is batting .172 (5-for-29) with a 31 percent strikeout rate in his past six games, so he'll move down the lineup after primarily operating as Philadelphia's leadoff man to begin the season. Manager Rob Thomson said he wanted to "take the pressure off" Realmuto as he works on a leg kick and improving his timing.

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

Smith started the previous two games -- and went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, an additional run and two walks Monday -- but will take a seat for Tuesday's matchup against Cleveland. Dalton Rushing will bat eighth and step in behind the plate to catch for Dustin May.

Rutschman (head) is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cardinals, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

It's the second straight game on the bench for Rutschman after he took a foul tip to the mask Sunday against the Red Sox. According to Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun, interim manager Tony Mansolino said Rutschman is scheduled to take batting practice Tuesday, weather permitting, and could be back in the lineup soon.

Lee (ankle) was activated from the 10-day injured list prior to Tuesday's game against the Mets.

Backup catcher Matt Thaiss was traded to the Rays for a low-level prospect (Dru Baker) Tuesday in advance of Lee's activation. Edgar Quero should continue to play more than Lee, although Quero could start getting another start or two at designated hitter each week to provide Lee with more opportunities. Lee hit .333 with a .417 BABIP and zero home runs in 17 plate appearances before landing on the shelf. He hit .302 with two home runs in 11 rehab games.

Thaiss was traded from the White Sox to the Rays on Tuesday in exchange for Dru Baker.

Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times speculates that Ben Rortvedt's roster spot will be in jeopardy when Thaiss joins the team, so the latter appears set to take over as Danny Jansen's backup. The lefty-hitting Thaiss slashed .212/.382/.294 with one home run, one steal and more walks (23) than strikeouts (21) in 110 plate appearances with the White Sox.

Jansen went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run Monday against the Twins.

Jansen had a slow start to the season at the plate and had only one home run across his first 28 games. However, in his last nine contests beginning May 13, he has slugged three homers while hitting .310 to go along with six RBI and five runs scored.