MLB Player News
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Jake Rogers C | DET
Tigers' Jake Rogers: Returns to lineup Sunday
Rogers is starting at catcher and batting eighth in Sunday's game against the Reds.
Rogers was out of the lineup Saturday, marking his third absence in the last four games, but he's back in there Sunday in place of Carson Kelly. Based on the recent playing time, it seems Kelly has pulled ahead as Detroit's top catching option, though Rogers could swing things back in his favor if he starts driving the ball over the wall more frequently.
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Carson Kelly C | TEX
Tigers' Carson Kelly: Taking seat Sunday
Kelly is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.
With eight hits -- including three home runs -- in 28 at-bats over his last eight starts, Kelly seems to have at least temporarily overtaken Jake Rogers as the Tigers' preferred catcher. Though Rogers gets the nod behind the dish Sunday, Kelly had started in three of the previous four contests.
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Alejandro Kirk C | TOR
Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk: Tallies three hits Saturday
Kirk went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI in Saturday's 5-4 win against Seattle.
Kirk was a big part of the Blue Jays' offense in the victory, plating the team's first run with a double in the fourth inning and adding a sacrifice fly in the seventh. The backstop finished with his third three-hit effort of the campaign. The performance moved Kirk's batting average back over the Mendoza Line to .214.
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Adley Rutschman C | BAL
Orioles' Adley Rutschman: Slugs 16th homer
Rutschman went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run and a walk in a loss to the Athletics on Saturday.
Rutschman's three-run blast in the seventh inning didn't have much of an impact on the outcome since Oakland still led 17-4 at that point, but it may have been a momentum-shifter personally after he had collected just one hit over his previous 19 at-bats. The long ball also moved him into second place for homers among MLB catchers with 16 on the campaign. Only Oakland's Shea Langeliers -- who hit his 17th homer in the same contest Saturday -- has more home runs among big-league backstops.
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Shea Langeliers C | OAK
Athletics' Shea Langeliers: Homers again Saturday
Langeliers went 2-for-6 with a two-run home run, an additional RBI and an additional run in a 19-8 victory versus the Orioles on Saturday.
Langeliers piled on to a decimation of Baltimore's pitching with a two-run shot to left field in the third inning that gave gave Oakland a 12-0 lead. The backstop had previously notched an RBI single in the second frame. Langeliers has gone deep in two straight contests and in four of his past 10. He leads MLB catchers with 17 long balls on the campaign.
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Freddy Fermin C | KC
Royals' Freddy Fermin: Racks up three hits
Fermin went 3-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Friday's 4-2 loss to the Rockies.
Fermin has three multi-hit efforts over his last eight games, but that's a span that dates back to June 20. The backup catcher is making the most of his opportunities this year, slashing .303/.355/.439 with four home runs, 19 RBI, 24 runs scored and nine doubles over 169 plate appearances. Fermin's reliability has allowed Salvador Perez to rest or serve as the designated hitter regularly. Fermin's playing time had declined while Michael Massey was limited to designated-hitter duties, but Massey has been cleared to play the field and should see more time at second base in the second half.
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Seby Zavala C | SEA
Mariners' Seby Zavala: Pushed off 40-man
The Mariners designated Zavala for assignment Saturday.
Zavala was selected to the active roster Tuesday to provide additional depth behind the plate, and he'll now be pushed back off the 40-man without appearing in a game for Seattle. The 30-year-old backstop passed through waivers unclaimed when he was DFA'd in June, and it's likely he does so again this time around. Emerson Hancock was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma in a corresponding move.
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Shea Langeliers C | OAK
Athletics' Shea Langeliers: Knocks homer in loss
Langeliers went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a loss to the Orioles on Friday.
Langeliers' seventh-inning, 412-foot shot to center closed the Athletics' deficit to 3-2, which would turn out to be the final score. It was the 16th homer across 75 games -- and third in the last nine -- for Langeliers, who appears very likely to surpass the career-best 22 he slugged last season if he's able to avoid any extended absences.