MLB Player News
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Victor Caratini C | HOU
Astros' Victor Caratini: Playing time trending down
Caratini is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.
Despite bringing his batting average up to .267 with a 4-for-5 performance in Saturday's 7-3 loss, Caratini will head to the bench for the series finale. With Houston acquiring Carlos Correa and Jesus Sanchez at the trade deadline and getting Jeremy Pena back from the injured list Friday, Caratini's playing time may become more inconsistent.
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Carlos Narvaez C | BOS
Red Sox's Carlos Narvaez: Sitting Sunday, likely Monday, too
Narvaez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros.
Narvaez will get a breather after he caught all nine innings of Saturday's 7-3 win over the Astros. Connor Wong will get the nod behind the plate Sunday, and manager Alex Cora said he planned on having the 29-year-old catch again Monday against the Royals in an effort to keep him sharp, according to Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. Despite the impending time off, Narvaez should still viewed as Boston's No. 1 catcher.
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Kyle Higashioka C | TEX
Rangers' Kyle Higashioka: Homer, three RBI in win
Higashioka went 2-for-4 with a home run, a walk, three total RBI and an additional run scored in Saturday's 6-4 extra-innings win over the Mariners.
Higashioka opened the scoring with a two-run homer in the third inning and broke a 2-2 tie in the 10th with an RBI single. In 17 games since July 4, the veteran backstop has posted a remarkable 1.142 OPS with nine extra-base hits, 14 RBI and 10 runs scored. For the year, he's slashing .269/.316/.431 with seven home runs, 30 RBI, 22 runs scored and three steals across 212 plate appearances.
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J.T. Realmuto C | PHI
Phillies' J.T. Realmuto: Stays hot with multi-hit game
Realmuto went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 7-5 loss to Detroit.
Realmuto has now hit fourth or fifth in Philadelphia's lineup for 11 consecutive games, and the move up the batting order should amplify the veteran catcher's RBI upside as long as Alec Bohm (ribs) remains on the injured list. Since the start of July, Realmuto is hitting a torrid .345 with two home runs, eight doubles, 11 RBI and 10 runs scored over 21 outings (87 at-bats).
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Salvador Perez C | KC
Royals' Salvador Perez: Belts homer No. 20
Perez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Blue Jays.
The veteran catcher took Max Scherzer deep in the sixth inning, giving Perez his fifth straight 20-homer campaign and the ninth of his Hall of Fame career. The 35-year-old has been getting plenty of work at first base and DH this season to preserve his legs, but with Freddy Fermin now a Padre, Perez might need to be behind the plate more often over the final two months unless the Royals decide top prospect Carter Jensen, who has eight homers in his first 24 Triple-A games, is ready for his big-league debut.
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Tyler Heineman C | TOR
Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Leaves with bruised head
Heineman was removed from Saturday's game against the Royals with a head contusion, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.
Heineman was hit by a pitch in the third inning and took a foul tip off his catcher's mask shortly afterward in the fourth, which ultimately ended his day behind the plate. The team is currently labeling his injury as a contusion, though the 34-year-old backstop will likely be evaluated for a concussion.
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Austin Wells C | NYY
Yankees' Austin Wells: Not in Saturday's lineup
Wells isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Marlins, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Wells will use Saturday to rest after going 1-for-5 with a run scored during Friday's high-scoring loss. While Wells sits, Ben Rice will catch for starter Cam Schlittler and bat sixth.
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Francisco Alvarez C | NYM
Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Returning Saturday
Alvarez (head) will start at catcher and bat eighth Saturday against the Giants.
Alvarez was struck in the helmet by a foul tip Wednesday and was held out of Friday's series opener, but he never suffered any concussion symptoms and has been given the green light to return to the starting lineup. Alvarez has gone 6-for-21 (.286) with one triple, one home run and two RBI in the seven games since being recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on July 21.