MLB Player News

Mets catcher Johnny Monell has only taken two at-bats in 2015, but made one count on Sunday, delivering a two-run double in the eighth inning in Philadelphia.

"I just knew that guys in front of me were getting on and I would have an opportunity with some people on base to hit," Monell said to the New York Post. "I ended up squaring up pretty good and it ends up in the gap, scoring two and giving us a little cushion going into the ninth."

Monell hit .397 with Triple-A Las Vegas before getting called up to New York.

Catcher Martin Maldonado went 3 for 5 on Sunday with a home run and then a walk-off RBI single in the Brewers' 3-2, 11-inning win over the Cubs.

The homer was Maldonado's second of the year and first since April 21.

Reds designated hitter Devin Mesoraco went 2 for 4 with an RBI triple in his team's 4-3 loss to the White Sox Sunday.

Mesoraco has been limited by a hip injury for much of the year, but he was able to make two starts this weekend while serving as the designated hitter. He had just two hits on the season coming into Sunday's game before doubling his total in one day.

Mesoraco has hit .118/.231/.176 with one stolen base in 34 at-bats. With the Reds leaving Chicago to return to non-DH action, the catcher will likely be limited to pinch-hit duty in the immediate future.

Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal, right fielder Andre Ethier and third baseman Juan Uribe are not in the starting lineup for Sunday's matchup with the Rockies.

Grandal has been red hot in May, raising his average from .189 to .307 in a span of seven games, but he'll get a second straight day off Sunday after Saturday's game was postponed. A.J. Ellis will start behind the plate.

The Dodgers are heavy road favorites (-185) Sunday.

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco is in the starting lineup Sunday, batting sixth and serving as the designated hitter in his team's matchup with the White Sox.

Mesoraco made his first start since April 11 in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader, as he's been limited to pinch-hit duty while dealing with a hip impingement. With the option to serve as designated hitter off the table after Sunday's game, Mesoraco will likely return to pinch-hit duty while trying to rehab the injury. He's just 2 for 30 on the season.

The Reds are underdogs (+110) in Chicago Sunday.

Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud is scheduled for an exam Tuesday to determine if he can remove his soft cast and be cleared for baseball activity, ESPN New York reports.

d'Arnaud suffered a broken pinky finger after being hit by a pitch three weeks ago and is on the 15-day disabled list while recovering. He has hit .317/.356/.537 with two home runs and 10 RBI in 41 at-bats.

Mets rookies Dilson Herrera and Kevin Plawecki are out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies.

Herrera has made seven straight starts at second base since joining the lineup but will get a breather Sunday, with Ruben Tejada taking his place. Plawecki has made five straight starts behind the plate, but Anthony Recker will catch Sunday.

The Mets are road favorites (-150) in Philadelphia.

Reds' Devin Mesoraco is back in the starting lineup for game 2 against the White Sox on Saturday, according to MLB.com.

Mesoraco is slotted as the designated hitter and will bat sixth. It will be his second start since April 11 with a hip injury, although he has been able to come on as a pinch hitter over the last couple of weeks.

Braves catcher Christian Bethancourt has lost his starting job. Hitting coach Kevin Seitzer is trying to help him find his swing.

Seitzer has been urging the 23 year old to stop swinging for the fences and start swinging for hits.

"Don't try to do too much," Bethancourt told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution when asked what Seitzer was telling him. "Try to use my hands, try to get back in my approach, and I should be alright."

Bethancourt has received more playing time since veteran replacement A.J. Pierzynski slowed down after a torrid start. But it hasn't helped. He is 3-for-26 with five strikeouts in eight games previous to Saturday. That lowered his slash line to .159/.196/.227.

Right fielder Mark Trumbo and catcher Tuffy Gosewisch will get some rest Saturday as  both are out of the Diamondbacks' starting lineup against the Padres.

Trumbo has started 24 of the D-backs' 28 games in right field before Saturday while Gosewisch has started 21 games behind the plate.

Outfield utility-man Ender Inciarte will start in right and bat leadoff with Jordan Pacheco batting seventh in his seventh start behind the plate.