MLB Player News

Fermin is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners.

Fermin seems to have moved into more of a part-time role of late, as he'll hit the bench for the third time in seven games while he's slashed a paltry .107/.129/.143 since Aug. 15. With Salvador Perez picking up more playing time behind the dish rather than at first base or designated hitter of late, Matt Beaty has been gaining more traction in the Royals' everyday lineup.

Vazquez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers.

Vazquez will sit out the day game after a night game, affording Ryan Jeffers a turn behind the plate. After he entered the series versus Texas with a five-game hitting streak, Vazquez went 0-for-7 over his two starts against the Rangers.

Langeliers is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox.

Langeliers will be getting a needed day off for the series finale after he started behind the dish in each of Oakland's last six games while going 5-for-20 with four home runs and a stolen base. Carlos Perez will handle catching duties Sunday.

Rortvedt is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays.

Rortvedt will get a maintenance day after catching in the first two games of the series while going 0-for-5 with a walk against three strikeouts. Kyle Higashioka will step in behind the dish for the series finale.

Diaz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers.

Though Diaz is on the bench for Sunday's series finale, expect the Astros to find a way for him to stick in the lineup on a near-everyday basis. He had started in each of the last nine games, slashing .316/.350/.553 with five extra-base hits. Even with Jose Abreu having recently returned from the injured list, the Astros can keep Diaz's bat in the lineup by deploying Yordan Alvarez in the corner outfield more often or giving top catcher Martin Maldonado more frequent days off.

Naylor is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.

The lefty-hitting Naylor will bow out of the lineup Sunday with southpaw Yusei Kikuchi toeing the rubber for Toronto. Eric Haase will handle the catching duties for Cleveland.

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

The Blue Jays' timeshare at catcher has been favoring Danny Jansen of late. Jansen will pick up his fifth start in seven games, while Kirk has received the other two starts at catcher during that stretch. Kirk's lack of usage comes while he's maintained a lowly .513 OPS through 15 games in August.

Jansen will start at catcher and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Guardians.

The Blue Jays' catching duties have been tilting in Jansen's favor of late. He'll be picking up his fifth start behind the plate Sunday in the Blue Jays' last seven games, while Alejandro Kirk has received the other two starts at catcher during that stretch. Jansen will form a battery with starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi in the series finale.

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.

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.