MLB Player News

Narvaez (calf) expects to begin a rehab assignment by the end of the week, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

Rookie Francisco Alvarez is rapidly improving and seems to be locking down a significant role behind the dish for the Mets, so Narvaez could find himself competing with Tomas Nido (vision issues) for one roster spot when both backstops are healthy again. Narvaez played only five games this season before suffering a significant calf strain in early April that landed him on the 60-day IL.

Stubbs will start at catcher and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks.

With top backstop J.T. Realmuto receiving a breather for the day game after a night game, Stubbs will crack the starting nine for just the eighth time in 49 contests on the season. Stubbs, who owns a .588 OPS over 30 plate appearances in 2023, will likely remain one of MLB's most lightly used backup catchers so long as Realmuto is healthy.

Realmuto is not in the starting lineup Wednesday versus the Diamondbacks.

Realmuto will get a rare breather Wednesday, heading to the bench after he went 8-for-32 with three doubles, two RBI, a run scored and four walks while starting the last nine games. Garrett Stubbs will take over behind the plate and bat ninth in the series finale with Arizona.

Jeffers will start at catcher and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Giants.

Jeffers will step in behind the plate in place of top backstop Christian Vazquez, who is receiving some routine maintenance for the day game after a night game. Though Vazquez has maintained a lowly .565 OPS for the season, Jeffers has yet to gain any major momentum in displacing the former atop the depth chart. Despite carrying a .748 OPS into Wednesday's contest, Jeffers will be making just his fourth start in 10 games.

Vazquez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Giants.

He'll be receiving some routine maintenance in the series finale after catching both of the past two days. Ryan Jeffers will spell Vazquez behind the plate Wednesday.

Hedges is out of the lineup Wednesday versus the Rangers.

Hedges will head to the bench after he went 0-for-6 with two strikeouts while starting the first two games of the series behind the plate. Jason Delay will take over at catcher and bat eighth in the rubber match with Texas.

Moreno is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies.

The 23-year-old backstop will get a rest after he caught both of the first two games in the series in Philadelphia while going 1-for-6 with a home run, two walks and two RBI. Jose Herrera will step in behind the dish for the series finale.

Grandal is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Guardians.

Grandal will get a breather for a day game Wednesday after he started behind the plate in each of the White Sox's previous three contests. Seby Zavala will form a battery with starting pitcher Michael Kopech in the series finale.

Garver (knee) went 2-for-4 with two doubles Tuesday in the first game of his rehab assignment with Triple-A Round Rock.

Garver served as Round Rock's designated hitter Tuesday and made four trips to the plate before being lifted in the ninth inning. Garver will get another turn at DH in his next rehab game for Round Rock before working behind the plate. If all goes well over the next few days, Garver could be ready to return from the 10-day injured list at some point next week.

Thaiss went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 4-0 win over the Red Sox.

Thaiss has now hit safely in three straight games, going 3-for-8 with two RBI in that span. The catcher extended the Angels' lead to 2-0 with his fifth-inning solo shot Tuesday. For the season, he's slashing .291/.374/.418 with two homers, 10 RBI, 14 runs scored and four doubles through 91 plate appearances.