MLB Player News
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Jonah Heim C | ATL
Rangers' Jonah Heim: Slump continues
Heim went 0-for-3 with a walk in Friday's 9-1 loss to Boston.
Heim had a strong start to the season and held up well when a Mitch Garver (forearm) injury forced him into an everyday job at catcher. His fortunes, however, have turned since the break; Heim's batting just .183 in the second half and has two hits over the last 36 at-bats. He eclipsed his previous MLB career high in plate appearances in late July and is now up to 387 for the season, which could partially explain the diminished production.
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Yainer Diaz C | HOU
Astros' Yainer Diaz: Collects first RBI
Diaz went 0-for-3 with a walk and an RBI in Friday's 4-2 win over the Angels.
Diaz made his major-league debut Friday, and he drew a bases-loaded walk to force in the Astros' fourth run. The 23-year-old is a natural catcher, but he was the designated hitter Friday and doesn't seem likely to displace Martin Maldonado and Christian Vazquez behind the dish. Diaz had a solid 6.1 percent walk rate and a disciplined 17.8 percent strikeout rate in 48 games with Triple-A Sugar Land prior to his call-up. He slashed .294/.342/.587 with 16 home runs, 48 RBI and 38 runs scored at the highest level of the minors, though there's probably not a regular role waiting for him in the Houston lineup.
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Martin Maldonado C | SD
Astros' Martin Maldonado: Quiet in return to lineup
Maldonado (hand) went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in Friday's 4-2 win over the Angels.
Maldonado missed two games due to swelling in his right hand after he was hit by a pitch Sunday versus the Orioles. The catcher wasn't able to do much in his return, and he's gone just 5-for-40 (.125) over his last 14 games. Despite the lack of hitting, Maldonado figures to reclaim the No. 1 catcher role over Christian Vazquez as long as the former's hand issue doesn't resurface.
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Yasmani Grandal C | PIT
White Sox's Yasmani Grandal: Pops homer in win
Grandal went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, an additional RBI and an additional run scored in Friday's 3-2 win over the Twins.
Grandal supplied an RBI single and scored in the fourth inning, then added a game-tying solo shot in the eighth. This was the catcher's third game back from a knee injury -- he's gone 3-for-10 with two walks since his return. The 33-year-old is slashing .207/.311/.276 with four homers, 23 RBI, 12 runs scored and a stolen base through 302 plate appearances this season, and he should continue to serve as the White Sox's primary catcher when healthy.
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Salvador Perez C | KC
Royals' Salvador Perez: X-rays negative
Perez (hand) was diagnosed with a right hand contusion after exiting Friday's game against the Tigers, Joel Goldberg of Bally Sports Kansas City reports.
Perez was hit by a pitch on his right hand in the top of the sixth inning, but he underwent X-rays that came back negative. He seems to have avoided any structural damage, and he's considered day-to-day ahead of Saturday's matchup.
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Cal Raleigh C | SEA
Mariners' Cal Raleigh: Hammers two homers
Raleigh went 2-for-4 with two homers and four RBI in Friday's 6-1 win over Cleveland.
Raleigh drilled a solo shot against Cody Morris in the second inning followed by a three-run shot against Bryan Shaw in the sixth. The 25-year-old catcher has gone deep 21 times this season while posting a .205/.277/.475 slash line through 98 games. Entering Friday's game, Raleigh had just one home run in his previous 11 games after going deep twice Aug. 17.
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Salvador Perez C | KC
Royals' Salvador Perez: Exits after HBP
Perez was removed from Friday's game against the Tigers in the top of the sixth inning after he was hit by a pitch on his hand, Lynn Worthy of The Kansas City Star reports.
Perez led off the sixth inning but was immediately removed from the game after being plunked. Prior to his departure, he went 0-for-2 with a strikeout. If he's forced to miss additional time, MJ Melendez and Sebastian Rivero would serve as the Royals' top options behind the plate.
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Eric Haase C | SF
Tigers' Eric Haase: Exits with abdominal injury
Haase exited Friday's game against the Royals due to a lower abdominal contusion.
Haase was behind the plate in the first inning of Friday's matchup but was replaced defensively in the bottom of the second. He didn't record any plate appearances prior to his departure, and he should tentatively be considered day-to-day.
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Martin Maldonado C | SD
Astros' Martin Maldonado: Returns to Astros' lineup
Maldonado (hand) is starting Friday against the Angels.
Maldonado sat out the last two games due to a swollen right hand but will start behind the dish and bat ninth Friday. He's gone just 1-for-14 with a double, a run, a walk and six strikeouts over his last five games.
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Max Stassi C | SF
Angels' Max Stassi: Out of lineup
Stassi is not in the Angels' lineup for Friday's game against Houston, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Stassi has not been much of a threat at the plate this season, and his most recent cold spell -- he has a .374 OPS since the beginning of August -- hasn't helped him secure playing time. Instead, Matt Thaiss will serve as the Angels' catcher Friday.