MLB Player News

Heim went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Athletics.

Heim hit one of three Texas solo home runs in the fourth inning. It was the fourth homer of the season for the backstop, who has scuffled of late with a .167 batting average (4-for-24) over the last eight contests.

Vazquez went 2-for-3 with two doubles in Thursday's 3-0 loss to the White Sox.

Vazquez entered the game hitting just .100/.152/.167 and was losing playing time, so this was a much needed performance. Manager Rocco Baldelli told the Minnesota Star Tribune Thursday that Ryan Jeffers will get more playing time with Vazquez's slow start.

Perez went 5-for-8 with four doubles, four RBI and three runs scored in Thursday's doubleheader against the Rockies.

Perez powered the Royals' offense in Thursday's doubleheader sweep, opening the scoring in the matinee with a two-run double in the first inning before adding three hits and two more RBI in the nightcap. It's an encouraging effort from the 34-year-old Perez, who'd gone just 2-for-20 in five games coming into Thursday. He's now slashing .220/.271/.360 with two homers, 14 RBI and eight runs scored through 108 plate appearances this season.

Senger was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday, Manny Gomez of NJ.com reports.

Senger had a brief stretch of regular playing time behind the plate for the Mets but picked up only five hits across 28 at-bats overall. This move comes with the anticipation that Francisco Alvarez (hand) will return Friday, though that transaction has not yet been made official.

Contreras isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Giants.

Contreras has logged a base hit in 15 of his last 16 games, but he'll take a seat Thursday for what will be his second day off of the season. Eric Haase will start behind the plate instead and bat ninth.

Bailey is absent from the lineup for Thursday's contest versus the Brewers, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Bailey caught each of the first three games of the four-game set against the Brewers, so he'll receive a well-earned day off for Thursday's matinee. Sam Huff will be behind the dish and bat eighth for the Giants.

Stallings is out of the lineup for the first game of Thursday's doubleheader with the Royals.

Hunter Goodman will be behind the plate for the first game of the day, but expect Stallings to enter the lineup at catcher for the second half of the doubleheader, when rookie Chase Dollander will be on the mound for the Rockies.

The Cardinals will evaluate Herrera's (knee) progress and timetable for a rehab assignment when they return home Friday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Herrera is progressing well from a left knee bone bruise, as he's been able to run, hit and catch off a pitching machine without issue in recent days. A rehab assignment seems to be around the corner, but more will be known after he's evaluated Friday. Herrera has been shelved since early April.

Jeffers is not in the lineup for Thursday's game versus the White Sox.

He will yield to Christian Vazquez at catcher for Thursday's matinee. Jeffers had started each of the previous seven contests, including six of them at catcher.

Stephenson (oblique) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday. He's gone a combined 1-for-6 with a double, an RBI and two strikeouts in two games.

Stephenson operated as the catcher in both contests and caught five innings in each. With a layoff of over a month, the Reds are unlikely to push the catcher too quickly through the rehab process.