MLB Player News

Casali hit his fifth home run as part of a 2-for-5 game with three RBI and two runs scored in Monday's win over the Blue Jays.

Casalli's batting average climbed closer to the Mendoza line, now up to .197, but he struck out two more times Monday and now has 35 strikeouts in just 27 games and 83 plate appearances. The power is there, as with Monday's home run and double Casali now has a .447 slugging percentage and nine extra-base hits in his limited action. But he's stretching the limit of how often a player can strike out and remain in a major league lineup, and if he can't cut his strikeout rate down to at least his career mark of 32.7 percent, his power will be overshadowed by his inability to get on base (.256 OBP in 2016).

Gomes continued his recent hot streak, going 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI in the Indians' blowout victory against the Reds.

Gomes has had a rough season at the plate thus far, and it has been especially difficult in May, where his three home runs make up a full half of his hits for the month. Gomes' six homers in 2016 gives him half of his 2015 total already, but at this rate it'll take a while for his batting average to reach the .231 mark he set a season ago, let alone the .278 he hit the year before that.

McCann is not in the starting lineup Monday against the Twins.

McCann has not been great at the plate lately, as he's only collected three hits over the past week, although that actually raised his batting average to a poor .125. Jarrod Saltalamacchia will fill in for him behind the plate Monday.

McCann has back-to-back hits in his last two games for the second time this season, but is still struggling overall with a .125 batting average (6-for-48).

McCann's OBP is a dismal .192 and he has 17 strikeouts in 51 plate appearances. He has really struggled to re-establish himself in the batter's box after a two-week stint on the DL for a sprained right ankle. McCann's stroke should return -- he hit .264 over 114 games in 2015 -- but right now, his bat should be on your bench.

Vazquez is out of the lineup Sunday against the Astros, Tim Britton of the Providence Journal reports.

It's just a routine off day for Vazquez, who has been behind the plate three times in the previous four days. Ryan Hanigan will handle catching duties, serving as the battery mate for Sean O'Sullivan.

Gomes is out of the lineup Sunday against the Twins, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reports.

Gomes was behind the plate for the first two games of the series, producing two homers and three RBI. He'll get his usual day off for Sunday's matinee, with Chris Gimenez stepping in to handle the catching duties.

Casali is out of the lineup Sunday against the Athletics, freelance Tampa Bay writer Roger Mooney reports.

Casali has fallen into a 0-for-6 skid over his last three appearances to drop his average below .200 on the season, so he'll give way to Hank Conger behind the plate for the second straight day. Conger has yet to make much of an impact with the bat this season, and his defensive shortcomings will likely result in Casali claiming the bulk of the starts at catcher over the upcoming week.

Gomes went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer in Friday's 7-6 victory over the Twins.

All three hits that Gomes has managed against Twins starter Ricky Nolasco over his nine career at-bats have been homers, with the long ball Friday representing his first since Apr. 25 against this same Twins squad. It was only Gomes' third hit in 33 May at-bats however, as he's posting an atrocious .091/.167/.212 line for the month.

Sanchez was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Saturday.

Sanchez was recalled just a day earlier, and he served as the DH in Friday's game against the White Sox, going 0-for-4 with a strikeout. The 23-year-old will return to Triple-A, where he holds a healthy .288/.336/.541 slash line in 111 at-bats.

The Yankees recalled Sanchez from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday.

Sanchez posted an .872 OPS with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season, and the Yankees felt it was a good time to call him up and let him get some opportunities at the big league level. It's not clear if Sanchez will remain with the Yankees long-term or head back to Triple-A at some point, but he will see immediate action Friday as he'll serve as the Yankees' designated hitter and hit sixth against White Sox starter Chris Sale.