MLB Player News

Ruiz is absent from the lineup for Friday's game against the White Sox.

It's been a virtually even split in playing time at catcher between Ruiz and Drew Millas. After Ruiz started each of the previous two contests, it will be Millas behind the dish in Friday's series opener.

Jeffers went 1-for-4 with a grand slam and two walks in a loss to the Mets on Thursday.

Jeffers came up with a clutch hit in the top of the eighth inning, belting a grand slam to left field to tie the score 7-7. Minnesota eventually went on to lose the game, but it was a big moment for the backstop, who had just two hits over his previous 19 at-bats prior to the homer. On the season, Jeffers is slashing .267/.405/.483 with three long balls, 16 RBI, 12 runs and a 13:14 BB:K through 74 plate appearances.

The Rangers designated MacIver for assignment Thursday.

MacIver has spent the entire season at Triple-A Round Rock, slashing .170/.333/.255 with a home run, six RBI and six runs scored through 60 plate appearances. He'll end up as the roster casualty to make room on the 40-man roster for Peyton Gray, whose contract was selected from Round Rock on Thursday.

Teel did not begin a rehab assignment earlier this week as initially anticipated, as his right hamstring is "still grabbing at him a little bit" when he runs, Connor McKnight of the Chicago Sports Network reports.

Teel had been scheduled to kick off a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte on Monday, but that's been pushed back. The catcher noted that his hamstring strain -- which he initially suffered in mid-March while playing for Team Italy during the World Baseball Classic -- is "getting better every day," but it just isn't progressing as quickly as hoped. Edgar Quero and Reese McGuire will continue handling catching duties for the White Sox until Teel is ready.

Quero isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Quero will grab a seat on the bench Thursday after going 0-for-7 with two walks and two RBI over his last three games. Reese McGuire will handle catching duties instead and bat ninth.

Smith isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Giants, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports.

After going 0-for-9 with a walk and two strikeouts over his last three games, Smith will step aside Thursday while the red-hot Dalton Rushing starts behind the plate and bats seventh.

Kelly will start at catcher and bat fifth in Thursday's game against the Phillies.

The Cubs' initial lineup did not include Kelly, but he's in there in the updated version. Kelly is sporting a .310/.420/.466 batting line with a pair of homers and an 11:12 BB:K in the early going this season.

Kelly is absent from the lineup for Thursday's contest versus the Phillies.

It's the first time this season Kelly has been out of the lineup for consecutive games, and he's now started just three of the last eight tilts. Miguel Amaya will draw a second straight start at catcher as the Cubs try to finish off a sweep.

Heim went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Wednesday's win over the Nationals.

The 30-year-old got the start at catcher and hit ninth for Atlanta, and Heim did an effective job of flipping the lineup over in an 8-6 victory. Heim quietly has a six-game hitting streak dating back to April 7, batting .304 (7-for-23) over that stretch with three doubles, two RBI and a run. Heim isn't guaranteed to lose his spot on the 26-man roster when Sean Murphy (hip) gets healthy, given Atlanta's tendency to keep Drake Baldwin's bat in the lineup at DH when he isn't catching.

Baldwin went 2-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Wednesday's win over the Nationals.

The second-year backstop took Zack Littell deep in the first inning, kicking off an eight-run, four-homer barrage by Atlanta. Baldwin has left the yard in back-to-back games and seven times in his first 25 contests this season while compiling a stellar .320/.391/.563 slash line, 23 RBI and an MLB-leading 26 runs.