MLB Player News

Moreno went 4-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Friday's 6-4 win over the Cubs.

Moreno's four-hit effort snapped a stretch of nine games without a multi-hit performance, during which he went 4-for-22 (.182). The catcher hit .327 in August, but he'd cooled off early in September. He has a .286/.333/.419 slash line with seven home runs, 43 RBI, 30 runs scored, five stolen bases and 17 doubles through 99 contests on the year.

Diaz is absent from the lineup Friday at Kansas City.

Martin Maldonado will start at catcher and Yordan Alvarez will serve as the Astros' designated hitter as Michael Brantley patrols left field. Diaz has posted a strong .847 OPS with 21 home runs in 95 major-league games this season, but he's largely been a part-time player over the last few weeks.

Wells is absent from the lineup Friday at Pittsburgh.

Ben Rortvedt will take a turn as the Yankees' catcher, with Wells and Kyle Higashioka both riding the pine. Wells, 24, has slashed just .103/.156/.138 with nine strikeouts through his first 33 plate appearances at the major-league level.

Wong is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Blue Jays, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Reese McGuire will do the catching for Brayan Bello in this one. Wong went 0-for-7 with four strikeouts during the Red Sox' last series versus the Yankees.

Alvarez isn't in the Mets' lineup Friday against Cincinnati, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez will get a day off Friday despite collecting a hit in each of his last three games -- including a home run Tuesday. Omar Narvaez will start behind the plate and bat ninth while Alvarez sits.

Murphy isn't in Atlanta's lineup Friday against Miami, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Travis d'Arnaud will start behind the dish for Atlanta in Friday's series opener after Murphy has failed to record a hit in his last eight trips to the plate.

Contreras (hand) is at catcher and batting fifth Friday versus the Phillies in his return to the lineup, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Contreras exited Tuesday's game and didn't play Wednesday because of a bruised right hand, but he's back in there following Thursday's off day. The 31-year-old carries a .940 second-half OPS into play Friday.

Heim went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Thursday's 9-2 win over the Blue Jays.

Heim homered in the third inning, giving him RBI in four straight contests. He went 6-for-18 with two home runs and eight RBI during the four-game sweep of Toronto. Heim's wrist injury has hurt his production, but his performance against the Blue Jays is an encouraging sign. The injury has not impacted his playing time, however, as he's started at catcher for 11 of 13 games during the month of September,

Wells is not in the lineup for the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Red Sox.

Wells went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in the early tilt, a 5-0 loss for the Yankees, and he is now slashing just .103/.156/.138 through his first 33 major-league plate appearances. Kyle Higashioka will start at catcher and bat ninth in the nightcap.

Wong isn't in the Red Sox's lineup for Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Yankees, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

Wong will sit out the nightcap after going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts during the first game of Thursday's twin bill. Reese McGuire will start behind the dish instead and bat eighth.