MLB Player News
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Carlos Perez C | HOU
Athletics' Carlos Perez: Evaluation slated for coming week
Perez is slated to have his fractured left thumb evaluated by a doctor at some point this coming week, the team's official site reports.
Perez has been on the shelf since July 4 with the fracture, and it was subsequently determined he would not require surgery. If the veteran's progress is deemed to be sufficient during his evaluation, he could be cleared to begin strengthening activities as the next step in his recovery.
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Christian Bethancourt C | CHC
Rays' Christian Bethancourt: Takes seat Sunday
Bethancourt isn't in the Rays' lineup Sunday against the Royals, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Bethancourt has essentially alternated starts with Francisco Mejia all season, and Sunday will bring up Mejia's turn behind the plate. Bethancourt is slashing just .167/.211/.167 across 19 plate appearances since the beginning of July.
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Francisco Mejia C | TB
Rays' Francisco Mejia: Swats fourth homer
Mejia went 2-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored across both games of Saturday's doubleheader against the Royals.
Mejia drew the start in the first game of the doubleheader and blasted his fourth homer of the season -- three of which have come in his last 16 games. However, he's hit only .200 in that span and has started only five of the Rays' last 15 games while losing out on playing time to Christian Bethancourt.
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Salvador Perez C | KC
Royals' Salvador Perez: Tallies five hits across twin bill
Perez went 5-for-8 with a double over both games of Saturday's doubleheader versus Tampa Bay.
Perez was a perfect 4-for-4 in Game 1, notching his first four-hit effort of the campaign. It was a promising start to the second half after the veteran catcher sputtered to a 4-for-43 mark and failed to hit a home run over his final 12 games before the All-Star break. Perez's double in the matinee of the twin bill was his first extra-base hit of any kind since he slugged a long ball June 23 against the Rays.
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Yainer Diaz C | HOU
Astros' Yainer Diaz: Reaches base three times
Diaz went 2-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored Saturday against the Angels.
Diaz was out of the lineup for Houston's first game after the All-Star break, but he returned to hit seventh and serve as the designated hitter Saturday. He entered the game in a short-term slump, having hit just .216 across his previous 10 contests and 37 at-bats. Diaz has shown some impressive power across 193 plate appearances this season by maintaining a .224 ISO. However, he boasts just a 2.6 percent walk rate, limiting him to a .285 on-base percentage. It remains to be seen whether that will be enough to keep him in the lineup regularly as the catcher once Yordan Alvarez (oblique) is able to return.
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Logan O'Hoppe C | LAA
Angels' Logan O'Hoppe: Hits off tee Saturday
O'Hoppe (shoulder) hit off a tee Saturday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
O'Hoppe began taking dry swings July 4 and has now taken another step forward. A return before the end of August is considered a best-case scenario for the rookie catcher, although it's possible the Angels will hold him out for the rest of the season if they're not in playoff contention. O'Hoppe is coming back from surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder.
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Jose Trevino C | CIN
Yankees' Jose Trevino: Remains on bench
Trevino will sit Saturday against the Rockies.
Trevino was on the bench for the final game of the first half and hasn't started either of the first two games after the break. Trevino is hitting just .211/.255/.316 (good for a 57 wRC+) on the season, which makes Kyle Higashioka's .236/.275/.400 line and 84 wRC+ look good. Trevino has only made four more starts than Higashioka behind the plate this season and hasn't shown anything to suggest he's about to move into a true starting role.
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Twins' Christian Vazquez: Heads to bench
Vazquez will sit Saturday against the Athletics.
Vazquez has made 19 more starts behind the plate than Ryan Jeffers this season, but the pair has had a much more even split in recent weeks. Vazquez continues to struggle offensively, posting a .551 OPS for the year and a .433 OPS over his last 22 games.