MLB Player News
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Yasmani Grandal C | PIT
White Sox's Yasmani Grandal: Starting Sunday, but losing time
Grandal will start at catcher and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Athletics.
Though he's back in the lineup for the series finale, Grandal was on the bench for each of the previous four games and appears to have moved into a reserve role while the White Sox prioritize younger players down the stretch. Korey Lee is sitting out Sunday but appears set to operate as Chicago's top backstop heading into September.
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Korey Lee C | CHW
White Sox's Korey Lee: Heads to bench Sunday
Lee is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics.
Lee will take a seat for the series finale after he started behind the plate in each of the past three games following his promotion from Triple-A Charlotte while going 1-for-10 with two walks a run. Though he'll give way to Yasmani Grandal on Sunday, Lee looks as though he's going to get a look as the White Sox's primary catcher down the stretch, at least until Seby Zavala (oblique) returns from the 10-day injured list.
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Logan O'Hoppe C | LAA
Angels' Logan O'Hoppe: Resting Sunday
O'Hoppe is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
O'Hoppe will get a breather for the Sunday afternoon contest after he went 1-for-7 with a walk while starting behind the dish both of the previous two days. Chad Wallach will catch for starting pitcher Griffin Canning in the series finale.
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Yainer Diaz C | HOU
Astros' Yainer Diaz: Still has regular job
Diaz went 0-for-4 with a walk Saturday against the Tigers.
Diaz didn't have a remarkable game, but his role in the Houston lineup appears secure. He's started all four games since Jose Abreu was activated from the injured list, playing twice at catcher and twice serving as the designated hitter. Diaz will need to be productive at the plate to keep his playing time, as his presence in the starting lineup will likely either push Abreu to the bench or force Yordan Alvarez to play the outfield.
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Cal Raleigh C | SEA
Mariners' Cal Raleigh: Blasts 25th homer
Raleigh went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Saturday's 15-2 victory over Kansas City.
Raleigh reached base four times Saturday, including on a solo shot in the sixth inning to extend Seattle's lead to 12-1. Over his last 10 games, the 26-year-old backstop is hitting .371 (13-for-35) with five long balls, 13 RBI and seven runs. Raleigh has now reached 25 home runs for the second consecutive season -- he hit a career-high 27 last year.
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Mitch Garver DH | SEA
Rangers' Mitch Garver: Launches 12th homer
Garver went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 6-2 win over the Twins.
Garver's home run was his third in his last four games, though they've all been solo shots and he has just one additional hit in that span. The 32-year-old is up to 12 home runs, 35 RBI, 27 runs scored and 10 doubles while slashing .278/.361/.515 through 57 contests this season. With Jonah Heim slumping since returning from a wrist injury, Garver could push for more time behind the dish -- he played there Saturday for the first time since Sunday. In any case, Garver's power production should at least keep him as the Rangers' top option for designated-hitter duties.
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Jonah Heim C | ATL
Rangers' Jonah Heim: Sits again Saturday
Heim remains on the bench for Saturday's game against the Twins.
Heim has gone just 2-for-24 at the plate since returning from a strained left wrist tendon. He now finds himself sitting for the second straight game, though whether that's an indication of a setback or merely an attempt to help him straighten things out is unclear. Mitch Garver will start behind the plate in his absence.
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Martin Maldonado C | SD
Astros' Martin Maldonado: Not in lineup
Maldonado will not start Saturday against the Tigers.
Maldonado finds himself on the bench for the second time in three games. Yainer Diaz will take over behind the plate.
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Christian Bethancourt C | CHC
Rays' Christian Bethancourt: Heads to bench
Bethancourt will be on the bench for Saturday's game against the Yankees, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
Bethancourt's share of the playing time behind the plate hasn't meaningfully changed with the shift from Francisco Mejia to Rene Pinto as the team's second catcher. Bethancourt and Pinto have each started eight of the team's last 16 games.
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Alejandro Kirk C | TOR
Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk: Heads to bench
Kirk will sit Saturday against the Guardians.
Kirk finds himself on the bench for the second time in three games, with Danny Jansen starting behind the plate. Kirk's disappointing .247/.328/.338 slash line means he hasn't had the opportunity to pad his playing time with starts at designated hitter in recent weeks. He last started at that position back on Aug. 4.