MLB Player News

Higashioka is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the White Sox.

Higashioka is sitting for the fourth time in six games and may be falling into the weak side of a timeshare at catcher with Ben Rortvedt. Since top backstop Jose Trevino (wrist) went down with a season-ending injury shortly after the All-Star break, Higashioka has produced a .537 OPS while striking out at a 32.4 percent rate over 12 games.

Kirk is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Guardians.

Kirk will hit the bench for the series opener after he had started in each of the last four games, with the most recent two coming at catcher while Danny Jansen (wrist) dealt with an injury. Jansen is back behind the plate Monday, but Kirk has made the case to remain part of a timeshare on the days he's not being used as a designated hitter. Though Kirk has been disappointing on the whole in 2023, he's in the midst of one of his best offensive stretches of the season. Dating back to July 20, Kirk has slashed .395/.500/.651 with three home runs and 8:4 BB:K in 13 games.

Jansen (wrist) will start at catcher and bat fifth in Monday's game against the Guardians.

Jansen will check back in behind the plate after an inflamed right wrist kept him out of the lineup the past two days. With Jansen back in the fold, Alejandro Kirk will head to the bench for the series opener in Cleveland.

Fermin went 2-for-4 with a double in Sunday's 8-4 loss to the Phillies.

Fermin closed out the weekend with a fourth consecutive two-hit game, and he's now slashing a blistering .388/.404/.714 with four home runs, eight RBI and 11 runs in 13 games since the All-Star break. An injury to Nick Pratto (groin) along with his own hot bat has allowed Fermin to take hold of a regular spot in the lineup alongside veteran catcher Salvador Perez, who has been seeing more time at first base and designated hitter of late. Perez is out of the lineup Monday in Boston due to what appears to be a minor hand injury, so Matt Beaty will fill in at first base while Fermin bats sixth and settles in behind the plate for what will be his fifth consecutive start.

Perez (hand) is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Red Sox.

Though he'll be on the bench for the series opener at Fenway Park, Perez appears to have avoided a major injury scare after he was removed from Sunday's 8-4 loss to the Phillies when he was hit in the left hand by a pitch. X-rays later cleared Perez of any structural damage, so he'll be viewed as day-to-day while he heals up from the hand contusion. With Perez on the bench Monday, Freddy Fermin will start behind the plate while Matt Beaty gets the nod at first base.

Thaiss went 1-for-3 with a solo home run against Seattle in Sunday's extra-inning loss.

Thaiss hit a big solo shot in the seventh inning to tie the game 2-2, but the Mariners ended up pulling out the win in the the 10th frame. The long ball was Thaiss's first since July 18, a span of 13 games. The catcher struggled mightily during that stretch, slashing .103/.200/.103 with no extra-base hits and a 33.3 percent strikeout rate over 45 plate appearances. Thaiss has held onto the primary catcher role since Chad Wallach hasn't hit any better, but both will likely see their playing time reduced when Logan O'Hoppe (shoulder) is ready to return, likely near the end of August.

Ruiz is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Phillies, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

Ruiz's absence from the lineup doesn't appear to be anything more than a rest day, considering that he made three starts (two at catcher, one at designated hitter) during the Nationals' series sweep of the Reds over the weekend. Riley Adams will step in for Ruiz behind the dish Monday.

Vazquez is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Tigers, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.

Vazquez will give way to Ryan Jeffers behind the dish for the series opener. The two backstops have now alternated starts at catcher over the last eight games.

Sanchez is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Dodgers.

The Padres and Dodgers are concluding their four-game series with a rare Monday day game after a Sunday night game, so Sanchez will get a breather after he was behind the plate for both of the previous two contests while going 3-for-7 with a solo home run, a double, a walk and an additional run. Luis Campusano will draw the start at catcher Monday, but Sanchez still appears to be the Padres' preferred option at the position for now.

Rodriguez went 3-for-4 with a solo homer and two runs scored in Sunday's win over the Brewers.

Rodriguez tallied his second multi-hit effort and his first three-hit game since he was called up in mid-July. The 23-year-old has gotten off to a slow start in his first taste at the major-league level, as he's now slashing .231/.286/.462 with two homers, seven RBI, eight runs and a 4:20 BB:K in 56 plate appearances. Rodriguez should get all the playing time he can handle down the stretch, with his only competition behind the dish being Jason Delay, who has made two starts since being called up Aug. 1.