MLB Player News

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Rays.

Mesoraco has caught every inning of three straight games in a four-day span since returning from an oblique injury, so he'll get a day of rest Saturday, with Brayan Pena catching and batting seventh. Mesoraco has performed well since returning from the disabled list, going 5 for 11 with three doubles, one home run and two RBI.

The Pirates want catcher Chris Stewart to continue his minor-league rehab assignment at Triple-A Indianapolis, where he was moved Friday, according to MLB.com.

The team wants Stewart to catch some full games as well as back-to-back games before considering bringing him back from the disabled list. The team does not have a specific timetable for Stewart to get back from the DL, as he continues to recover from offseason knee surgery. 

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco clubbed his first home run Wednesday against the Cardinals.

With one man on in the fourth, Mesoraco took a 93 mph fastball from Shelby Miller and deposited it into the left field seats. Mesoraco also singled in the game, and reached on an error. He finished the game 2 for 4, with one run scored and two RBI. 

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco made his season debut Tuesday, going 2 for 4 with two doubles and one run in his team's 7-5 loss to the Cardinals.

Mesoraco is getting a late start to the season after dealing with an oblique injury. He was activated from the disabled list Monday but didn't see game action until Tuesday's 2-for-4 performance.

Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal went 4 for 5 with a double, one run and one RBI in his team's 8-6 loss to the Indians Tuesday.

Grandal is working his way back from ACL surgery and has yet to catch in back-to-back games, though he could clear that hurdle this week. He's been outstanding with the bat, going 7 for 14 with five walks in his six games played.

Pirates catcher Chris Stewart caught five innings and went 0 for 2 at the plate in a rehab game with high Class A Bradenton Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

Stewart is slowly working his way back from mid-March knee surgery. His timetable for recovery gives him a tentative expected return to the majors in late April.

The Reds activated catcher Devin Mesoraco (oblique) off the 15-day disabled list prior to Monday's game at St. Louis.

However, Mesoraco was not in the starting lineup, as Brayan Pena drew the start at catcher. Though, manager Bryan Price said it was because he liked how Pena worked with starting pitcher Tony Cingrani in the left-handed hurler's first start this season.

"He's not in there because of the way things worked between Brayan and Tony the first time through," Price said, per MLB.com. "I think familiarity is important in this particular case. Our intentions are for Devin to get the bulk of the playing time. That's not going to change. He's just not starting today."

 Brewers catcher Martin Maldonado caught Wily Peralta in his season debut Saturday, continuing the pairing that the team rode throughout the second half of last season. Still, manager Ron Roenicke made a point of telling MLB.com he does not expect to stick with a strict battery featuring those two, preferring to rest Jonathan Lucroy without being concerned about the starting pitcher for that game.

Maldonado was hitless through his first five at-bats Saturday, as the game went into extra innings. He hit just .169/236/.284 in 67 games a year ago. 

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco will be activated early next week, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Mesoraco has been out with an oblique strain, but has been able to get through a rehab assignment. He'll be activated either Monday or Tuesday, and should see playing time immediately. 

Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud will sit for the first time Saturday.

The club will go with Anthony Recker behind the plate. d'Arnaud has gotten off to a slow start, going hitless in 12 at-bats to open the season. He'll likely return to the lineup Sunday.