MLB Player News

Jansen is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Royals.

Jansen will get a breather for the day game after he caught eight innings of Wednesday's 3-2 loss while going 1-for-3 with a walk. Alejandro Kirk gets the nod behind the dish for Toronto in the series finale in Kansas City.

The Nationals optioned Millas to Triple-A Rochester on Thursday.

Washington no longer had a need for Millas as a backup catcher after the team reinstated Keibert Ruiz (illness) from the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move. During his week-and-a-half-long stint with the Nationals, Millas appeared in two games and went 1-for-6 with a stolen base.

The Nationals reinstated Ruiz (illness) from the 10-day injured list Thursday. He'll start at catcher and bat fifth in the Nationals' series finale versus the Dodgers.

Ruiz missed the Nationals' last 11 games while recovering from a case of influenza. He checked out fine after making two rehab appearances with Double-A Harrisburg earlier this week and should settle back in as the Nationals' No. 1 catcher now that he's been activated from the IL. Washington optioned catcher Drew Millas to Triple-A Rochester in a corresponding move.

Heim is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Mariners.

Heim looks to be receiving some routine maintenance as the Rangers and Mariners wrap up their series with a day game after a night game. Andrew Knizner will get the starting nod behind the plate.

Wong is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Guardians.

Wong will get a breather for the day game after he powered the Red Sox to an 8-0 win Wednesday by going 4-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI while also reaching base on a hit by pitch. Reese McGuire will get the nod behind the plate Thursday, but the hot-hitting Wong appears to have clearly supplanted him as the Red Sox's preferred option at catcher.

Bart will start at catcher and bat cleanup Thursday against the Brewers.

Bart has been included in the lineup in four of the past six games and appears to have surpassed Henry Davis on the depth chart at catcher. The eventual return of Yasmani Grandal (foot) from the 10-day injured list could cost Bart some playing time, but for now, the 27-year-old should garner the lion's share of starts behind the dish while he's swinging a hot bat. Bart heads into Thursday's game with a 1.119 OPS over 23 plate appearances on the season.

Davis is out of the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Brewers.

He has now started just two of the previous six games and will give way to Joey Bart behind the dish Thursday. Davis is slashing just .180/.288/.230 with a 31.1 percent strikeout rate this season, and with Yasmani Grandal (foot) nearing a return, he could find himself back in the minors soon.

Stephenson is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Phillies.

Stephenson will get a well-deserved breather for Thursday's day game after he started in each of Cincinnati's last seven games, with six of those starts coming behind the plate. Luke Maile will get the nod at catcher Thursday and form a battery with starting pitcher Nick Martinez.

Naylor is out of the lineup for Thursday's contest versus the Red Sox.

Naylor started each of the previous three games at catcher for the Guardians, but he'll be given some rest for the Thursday afternoon tilt. David Fry will draw the start at catcher for Cleveland.

Maldonado is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Twins.

Maldonado finds himself on the bench for a second straight day, ending a stretch of eight consecutive contests in which he and Korey Lee alternated turns behind the dish. With the White Sox sitting on a 3-21 record and the 37-year-old Maldonado having recorded just two hits in 42 at-bats on the season, it's possible that the organization will begin to start phasing him out to open up more opportunities for the 25-year-old Lee.