MLB Player News

It was anticipated that Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco (hip) would be back in the lineup Tuesday in Milwaukee, but he remains out. Mesoraco is not only dealing with the ailment, but had been away from the team on personal business.

Injuries have prevented Mesoraco from playing much this season. And when he has played he hasn't hit - he has just two hits in 21 at-bats.

The Mets wasted little time getting catcher prospect Kevin Plawecki into the starting lineup following his promotion from Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday. Plawecki started and hit seventh on Tuesday against Braves right-hander Trevor Cahill.

"He came up here to play. He will do the majority of the catching," manager Terry Collins said.

Plawecki posted a .292/.368/.435/.803 slash line in four seasons in the minors (296 games). He also had 26 home runs, 72 doubles and 177 RBI.

Plawecki is considered the 63rd-best prospect in baseball by MLB.com and Baseball America.

As expected, the Mets promoted catcher prospect Kevin Plawecki and reliever Hansel Robles from Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday. 

The Mets also added catcher Travis d'Arnaud (finger) and reliever Jerry Blevins (arm) to the 15-day disabled list, while moving Zack Wheeler (elbow) from the 15-day to 60-day disabled list.

Reds manager Bryan Price said Monday he expects catcher Devin Mesoraco to rejoin the team Tuesday, reports Cincinnati.com. Mesoraco was away from the team for personal reasons

Price has not played since April 12 because of a left hip impingement. Price said Mesoraco cannot resume his catching duties when he returns, but is able to hit and run.

The Mets will promote catcher Kevin Plawecki and reliever Hansel Robles from Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday, the team announced Monday. The team will also transfer Zack Wheeler (elbow) to the 60-day disabled list.

Plawecki and Robles are being called up due to injuries to Travis d'Arnaud and Jerry Blevins. D'Arnaud is expected to miss at least a month due to a metacarpal fracture of the little finger of his right hand. Blevins has a distal radius fracture of the left arm and will miss more than six weeks.

Plawecki is considered the 63rd-best prospect in baseball by MLB.com and Baseball America. He is batting .216 (8 for 37) with one triple, two doubles and six RBI in nine games for Triple-A Las Vegas. 

Robles is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in five relief outings for Las Vegas. He has 10 strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings.

Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton is back in the lineup for Monday's game against the Brewers, while catcher Devin Mesoraco remains sidelined.

Hamilton wasn't in the lineup Sunday after suffering a groin strain the previous day, but he's ready to return to action in the team's series opener against the Brewers.

Mesoraco hasn't played since April 12 due to a left hip impingement. Manager Bryan Price said that he had to go home due to a family issue, but he's expected to be back with the team Tuesday, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Second baseman Brandon Phillips is also getting a day off from starting, with the team slotting Kris Negron into the eighth spot.

The Reds are underdogs (+104) Monday against the Brewers.

Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud was confirmed to have a broken pinky finger Monday after being hit by a pitch in Sunday's game, the team announced. d'Arnaud will be in a splint for the next three weeks and will be re-examined then. 

If the finger is healed enough, d'Arnaud will resume baseball activities. He will be placed on the 15-day DL Tuesday and the team will call up catcher Kevin Plawecki to replace him.

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco missed his seventh straight game Sunday with a left hip impingement and manager Bryan Price still isn't sure when he can return or what do with him, reports MLB.com.

"You're kind of between a rock and a hard place with this," Price said. "You don't want to exacerbate the problem, and I'm confident that his ability to hit and run will not compromise his current condition. [But] it's a lot easier to get him in the lineup when he's able to catch, and he's not there yet. I don't know how much we'll use him as a pinch-hitter. I'm hoping that in the next few days he's able to catch, because that's really his value to our club."

Price has not yet ruled out a stint on the disabled list for Mesoraco.

"[The] feeling is that ... he needed a few extra days rest from catching and may be able to catch in the next couple of days," Price said. "I'm hoping he can. I'm not sure."

The Mets are expected to promote Triple-A catcher Kevin Plawecki after Travis d'Arnaud suffered a fractured hand Sunday, the New York Daily News reports.

"Can he handle it here?" manager Terry Collins said after Sunday's win, his team's eighth straight. "We’ll likely find out."

Plawecki was pulled from his minor-league game early Sunday, all but confirming that he'll be on his way up to New York to serve as the team's No. 1 catcher while d'Arnaud is sidelined. Plawecki is just 8 for 35 this season but hit .309/.365/.460 with 11 home runs and 64 RBI in 376 at-bats between Double-A and Triple-A last season.

Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton (groin) and Devin Mesoraco (hip) are not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.

Hamilton came out of Saturday's game with a groin strain. With the speedster out of the lineup, Skip Schumaker will lead off for the Reds Sunday night. Mesoraco hasn't played since last Sunday due to a hip injury, though he was expected to be available at some point this weekend. Tucker Barnhart will draw the start at catcher Sunday.

The Reds are heavy underdogs (+165) against the Cardinals in St. Louis Sunday.